Finnish Troops to Somalia?Somali Troops Gather, Government plans antirebel offensive; residents flee Mogadishu

somali security forces have been battling Islamist rebels for years.

Image: EPA / Badri Media

The government proposes that Finland send no more than 10 people to take part in the European Union's military operation in Somalia.President Tarja Halonen is to decide on the matter on Friday. The operation is aimed at training Somali security forces.The European Commission decided in late January to launch the operation as part of broad international efforts to stabilise Somalia.The operation is intended to support the training of Somali security forces, which is already underway in Uganda. The objective is to train 2,000 soldiers within the next year or so. Training within Somalia is to begin in May.

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WSJ.com government troops mass in Mogadishu for a planned offensive against al Shabaab http://j.mp/dzTLc8
WSJ.com - Somalia's Al Shabaab to Ally With Al Qaeda http://on.wsj.com/9AMqKu