Spokesman Says AMISOM Would Deal with al-Shabab Threat

The African Union military force in Somalia (AMISOM) says it is ready to deal with threats posed by Islamists al-Shabab. The assurance comes after the Islamic group Sunday threatened to continue fighting any international force slated to intervene after Ethiopian troops leave. AMISOM says it has the backing of ordinary Somalis, who have been expressing their frustration with increasing attacks perpetuated by al-Shabab. Some political analysts, however, believe the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops would plunge the country into chaos. But some Somalis say the Ethiopian troop pullout would seriously undermine the support that al-Shabab has been enjoying so far. Washington has classified al-Shabab as a terrorist organization. AMISOM spokesman Major Barigye Ba-Hoku tells reporter Peter Clottey that ordinary Somalis want peace and stability to return to the country.
"As AMISOM, what (al-Shabab spokesman) Muqtar Robow is saying is nothing new into this mission area. Secondly, we know that the people of Somalia are tired of war, and so what we have been trying to do is to mobilize the positive forces inside and outside Somalia to work with us, especially, the Somalis," Ba-Hoku noted.
He said a military option is not the only solution to resolving Somalia's instability. more..http://www.voanews.com/english/Africa/2009-01-05-voa2.cfm
Spokesman Says AMISOM Would Deal with al-Shabab Threat