Somalia conflict, refugees a concern, Kenya tells UN

update on Dadaab refugee camps: 20 years of living in crisis

NAIROBI, April 1 (Reuters) - Kenya has expressed concernover the instability in Somalia as cross-border raids byinsurgents increase and a steady influx of refugees cross theporous frontier.
Fighting between Somali government troops and al ShabaabIslamist insurgents has forced hundreds of thousands to flee thelawless Horn of Africa nation, with Kenya hosting more than500,000 in several camps.
"Kenya is concerned about the fluid and unpredictablesituation in Somalia," President Mwai Kibaki said during ameeting with U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon late on Thursday.
"I look forward to the U.N. Security Council playing itsrightful role in ending the protracted internal strife inSomalia for the sake of millions of innocent people," Kibakisaid.
Ban is in Kenya to launch a progress report on the fightagainst HIV and AIDS, as well as for talks with Kenyan and U.N.officials.
Al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab rebels have been fightingSomalia's interim government since 2007, and have beenthreatening to attack Kenya in retaliation for its support ofthe administration.
Kenyan security officials said on Wednesday they repelled anattack on a police station by al Shabaab fighters who weretrying to steal arms, the latest in a series of attacks alongthe frontier.
Al Shabaab controls large swathes of central and southernSomalia, which has not had an effective central government sincethe 1991 overthrow of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.
But government troops and allied militia have been fightingback for control of some towns.
In the latest push, government troops backed by fightersfrom the pro-government Ahlu Sunna Waljamaca group attacked andretook control of Dobley town in the south early on Friday.
"We have been hearing heavy shelling and gunfire since 5 am,"town resident Daud Ali told Reuters by phone as fighting raged.
"Both sides are indiscriminate while firing. We are forcedto move inside (our homes) since the Kenya side is a no-go zonefor us," he said. (Editing by Helen Nyambura and Louise Ireland)