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African forces arrive in Somalia First peacekeepers are in Somalia
(10 minutes later)
A small advance team of African Union peacekeepers has arrived in Somalia, Somali officials have said. A small advance team of African Union troops has arrived in Somalia, Somali officials have said.
Police sources and airport staff in the southern town of Baidoa told a BBC correspondent that 30 soldiers had arrived in the town by plane.Police sources and airport staff in the southern town of Baidoa told a BBC correspondent that 30 soldiers had arrived in the town by plane.
A Ugandan army spokesman denied they were Ugandans, although their first contingent are due to head to Somalia. A Ugandan army spokesman denies they are Ugandans, although their forces are expected to be the first in Somalia.
Some 8,000 AU peacekeepers are to be sent to Somalia to replace Ethiopian troops, who ousted Islamists last year.Some 8,000 AU peacekeepers are to be sent to Somalia to replace Ethiopian troops, who ousted Islamists last year.
Uganda is expected to send some 1,500 troops to the capital, Mogadishu, and President Yoweri Museveni is due to see the troops off at a ceremony to be held in the eastern town of Jinja. But so far only half that number have been contributed by AU member states.
Nigeria has said its 850 soldiers will be deployed from the middle of April in three phases. Other countries that have pledged to send troops are Ghana, Burundi and Malawi.
New violenceNew violence
Uganda is expected to send some 1,500 troops to the capital, Mogadishu, and President Yoweri Museveni is due to see the first contingent of troops off at a ceremony to be held in the eastern town of Jinja.
But officials in the Ugandan military maintain that their first troops will not embark for Somalia until the beginning of next week
Somalia has seen a new spike in violence in recent weeks, two months after Ethiopian troops backed a campaign against the Union of Islamic Courts by the country's transitional government.Somalia has seen a new spike in violence in recent weeks, two months after Ethiopian troops backed a campaign against the Union of Islamic Courts by the country's transitional government.
Officials have blamed the rise in violence on the high number of weapons available in the capital, Mogadishu.Officials have blamed the rise in violence on the high number of weapons available in the capital, Mogadishu.
So far only half of the 8,000 required soldiers have been contributed by AU member states. The ousted Islamists also threatened to launch an insurgency against all foreign troops in Somalia.
Nigeria has said its 850 soldiers will be deployed from the middle of April in three phases. There have been several protests against the deployment of AU forces in Somalia, although many Somalis are keen to see the departure of Ethiopian forces as quickly as possible.
Other countries that have pledged to send troops are Ghana, Burundi and Malawi.