NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug. 6 (TF.SF) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday that Somalia's fragile government will receive more U.S. assistance in the future.Clinton praised Somalia President Sharif Ahmed's efforts against Islamic rebels intent on using Somalia as a "haven for global terrorism," The Washington Post reported."President Sheikh Sharif's government has taken up the fight on behalf of the Somali people (against) al-Shabab, a terrorist group with links to al-Qaida and other foreign terrorist networks," Clinton said. "They see Somalia as a future haven for global terrorism."Ahmed said after meeting with Clinton, who visited the site of the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombing in Nairobi Thursday, he was left with numerous promises of additional U.S. support."In terms of promises, there were many," Ahmed said. "There were promises on the security front, there were promises on the humanitarian front. When they materialize, it will be very helpful to the people of Somalia."The New York Times said Clinton also met with Kenyan leaders in Nairobi Thursday and urged those officials to prosecute those responsible for last year's post-election violence.Clinton reportedly said the international Criminal Court at The Hague would become involved if Kenya failed to act on the matter.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2009-08-06-clinton_N.htm
US to double arms, ammunition aid to Somalia: official
WASHINGTON (AFP) – The United States plans to double the amount of arms and ammunition it is providing Somalia's transitional government, a US State Department official said Thursday, signalling deeper US involvement in the conflict there.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the plan was to double supplies of arms and ammunition from 40 to 80 tonnes. "That's the idea," the official said.
The official also said Somalis were receiving military training in Djibouti, where the US military has a base covering the Horn of Africa.
"We are obviously going to look for ways that we can help to support that government to eventually help bring stability to that region, which is an important US foreign policy goal," State Department spokesman Robert Wood said.
Earlier in Nairobi, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged "very strong support" for Somalia's transition federal government in a meeting with its President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.
Clinton also warned Eritrea to stop supporting Al-Shebab, an Al-Qaeda-inspired Islamic militant group fighting the transitional government for control of the impoverished east African country...more..http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090806/pl_afp/usafricadiplomacysomaliaarms
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