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New attacks in southern Somalia New attacks in southern Somalia
(about 2 hours later)
Air strikes targeting Islamist fighters in southern Somalia have resumed, say eyewitnesses, although it is unclear if the United States is involved. Air strikes targeting Islamist fighters have resumed in southern Somalia, but there is no United States confirmation.
Residents in Afmadow town described two attacks from the air happening nearby, but there is no word on casualties. Residents in Afmadow town described two attacks nearby, whilst another attack occurred on the coast in Ras Kamboni.
This follows air raids earlier this week by US forces who said they were targeting suspected al-Qaeda leaders. This follows air raids earlier this week by US forces who said they were targeting suspected al-Qaeda leaders. At least 20 civilians have died.
The United Nations Security Council is set to meet to consider moves to send African peacekeepers into Somalia.The United Nations Security Council is set to meet to consider moves to send African peacekeepers into Somalia.
The initiative was agreed before the Islamic Courts militia were ousted by Ethiopia-backed government forces.The initiative was agreed before the Islamic Courts militia were ousted by Ethiopia-backed government forces.
UN officials fear the US actions may complicate peacekeeping efforts and the new UN chief has expressed concern.
There has been considerable criticism of the US, which on Sunday carried out its first overt military action in Somalia since 1994. Somali officials say many civilians died.
The US has long said al-Qaeda suspects linked to the 1998 US embassy bombings in East Africa took refuge in Somalia. It also accuses the Islamists of having links to al-Qaeda - charges they deny.
The Somali government, which has been fighting the Islamists, defended the US strike.
Location of militias and US Navy patrols Location of militias and US Navy patrols
Criticism
There has been considerable criticism of the US, which on Sunday carried out its first overt military action in Somalia since 1994.
UN officials fear the US actions may complicate peacekeeping efforts and new UN chief Ban Ki-moon said he regretted the reported loss of civilian lives.
UN spokesman Farhan Haq told the BBC that Mr Ban was "concerned about the new dimension that this kind of action could introduce to the conflict, and the possible escalation of hostilities that may result".
The south is a no man's land... it is forest. It's not easy to move in with military vehicles Somali interim deputy PM Hussein Aideed Twin US aims in Somalia Fact file: AC-130 gunship
A spokesman for EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel said the air strikes were "not helpful".
The US has long said al-Qaeda suspects linked to the 1998 US embassy bombings in East Africa took refuge in Somalia. It also accuses the Islamists of having links to al-Qaeda - charges they deny.
Last month, the UN Security Council authorised an African peacekeeping force to protect the transitional government against the Union of Islamic Courts.Last month, the UN Security Council authorised an African peacekeeping force to protect the transitional government against the Union of Islamic Courts.
They had taken control of much of central and southern Somalia over the past six months, before being routed from the capital, Mogadishu, and driven south by government and Ethiopian forces.They had taken control of much of central and southern Somalia over the past six months, before being routed from the capital, Mogadishu, and driven south by government and Ethiopian forces.
The UK Foreign Office is currently investigating reports that Britons are among those killed in the fighting after Somali officials said they had found a variety of international passports on the bodies of dead Islamist fighters.The UK Foreign Office is currently investigating reports that Britons are among those killed in the fighting after Somali officials said they had found a variety of international passports on the bodies of dead Islamist fighters.
'Hiding out''Hiding out'
UN chief Ban Ki-moon said he regretted the reported loss of civilian lives in the US attack.
UN spokesman Farhan Haq told the BBC that Mr Ban was "concerned about the new dimension that this kind of action could introduce to the conflict, and the possible escalation of hostilities that may result".
The south is a no man's land... it is forest. It's not easy to move in with military vehicles Somali interim deputy PM Hussein Aideed Twin US aims in Somalia Fact file: AC-130 gunship
Air raids were reported near the town of Afmadow on Monday and Tuesday, but it is not clear if these were carried out by the US, or by Ethiopian forces.
Correspondents say the situation on the ground in southern Somalia remains very unclear, with communications in the area poor.Correspondents say the situation on the ground in southern Somalia remains very unclear, with communications in the area poor.
The Islamist fighters are hiding in densely wooded areas close to the Kenyan border in the southern tip of Somalia.The Islamist fighters are hiding in densely wooded areas close to the Kenyan border in the southern tip of Somalia.
Somalia's interim deputy prime minister, Hussein Aideed, said the US action was necessary precisely because of their location.Somalia's interim deputy prime minister, Hussein Aideed, said the US action was necessary precisely because of their location.
"This is [the] south of the country, and it is a no man's land... it is forest. It's not easy to move in with military vehicles," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme."This is [the] south of the country, and it is a no man's land... it is forest. It's not easy to move in with military vehicles," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
Meanwhile, President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed said the US had the right to bomb those who had attacked its embassies. The BBC's Bashkas Jugsodaay who is between the Kenyan border and Doble town says dozens of people, mainly pastoralists, and their cattle were killed in air strikes on Tuesday evening near watering holes.
More than 250 people died in the 1998 attacks in Kenya and Tanzania, for which al-Qaeda claimed responsibility. Eyewitnesses in two villages between Doble and Afmadow say the attacks lasted for between 30 to 45 minutes.
The US also holds the same cell responsible for attacks on an Israeli aircraft and Israeli-owned hotel in Kenya in 2002, in which 15 people died. In other developments:
  • Somali officials say they have unconfirmed US reports that among those killed in the earlier raids may leading al-Qaeda suspect, Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, accused of masterminding the bomb attacks on US embassies in East Africa nine years ago.
  • The interim government has issued a decree calling all clan militia to assemble at designated points across the country to disarm, retrain and join the national army.
  • There has been a fresh attack on an Ethiopian vehicle in the capital, Mogadishu, following Tuesday's rocket attacks.
  • Ethiopia's government says it has almost completed its military operation in Somalia and has scored what the information minister described as "a shining victory".
  • Health officials say fighting in the south is preventing them from confirming a possible spread of the deadly Rift Valley Fever from Kenya to the Lower Juba region.
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