Somalia: American Soldiers Seized in Southern Region, Arab And Western Diplomats Say

[Jacpher]

Somalia: American Soldiers Seized in Southern Region, Arab And Western Diplomats Say

 

 

Aweys Osman Yusuf

Mogadishu

 

There have been mounting reports that numbers of American soldiers were missing in southern Somalia following the recent US air operations on the Islamist and al-Qaeda hideouts in southern jungles of the country, Al Sharq, an Arabic newspaper based in Qatar reported on Friday.

 

The paper also reported that Kenyan police have seized armed Asians crossing from Somalia into the Kenyan border. The Kenyan police believe the foreigners were fighting alongside with Somalia's defeated Islamists.

 

 

According to the paper, Arab diplomats, who asked for anonymity, confirmed that an unspecified number of US foot soldiers was seized in southern Somalia where Islamists are believed to be hiding after their loss of the capital Mogadishu to the UN and internationally-backed transitional government of Somalia and the Ethiopian troops in the country.

 

Western diplomats, who have not been named, also affirmed that US soldiers were missing in southern Somalia, Al Sharq reported.

 

It added that Michael Ranneberger, the US ambassador to Kenya, who met with Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, the defeated Islamist leader under Kenyan custody, has asked Ahmed to explain where the missing Americans are lingering.

 

Ranneburger has reportedly made the efforts to convince Ahmed to go back to Somalia and take part in a unity government election, which, he said would be held in Somalia next year. He said Sharif could achieve a high government post in the upcoming government election.

 

Meanwhile Kenyan police, who asked to remain anonymous, have confirmed to Al-Sharq that they caught two foreign fighters armed AK47s between the Kenyan and Somalia border.

 

The date of the capture was not specified, however.

 

Kenyan security forces are stationed at the Kenyan border along with Somalia to clutch the escaping Islamists and al-Qaeda operatives given a safe haven in Somalia by the Islamic Courts Union.

 

US ambassador Ranneburger, who spoke to Shabelle on 20 January, said the Islamists were harboring al-Qaeda operatives who were exerting control of the Islamic Courts.

 

Islamists always denied they had al-Qaeda operatives in their Islamic party while in control of the strife-torn country.

 

According to Kenyan Times, Kenyan authorities have arrested five people, including a U.S. citizen and a French citizen suspected to be fighters for Somalia's outdone Islamist movement, on Friday.

Source

 

 

[Wisdom_Seeker]

The Western media will never admit to this, unless the ICU beheads those damn American soldiers.

[Allamagan]

^^^ If that is true then why the ICU not put them on

parade? Why is this silence after all? you know we

do often see/hear about ethiopians been slaughtered

or killed by UICs, then why not in this case? no at

least photos leaked out let alone shown on TV. Again

Foreign western and arab diplomats were said to be

the source of this rumour so how credible can they

be then? I really doubt

[Jabhad]

^Who are we to tell them when to show or not to show such images. Considering the area they are operating[gari go'an] and the hostile forces surrounding them, it will be very difficult putting out a credible propoganda images.

[Allamagan]

^^ No it wont, especially at this age and the

transmision medium available.

 

So, if that (the news) is true then it can give the

UIC fighters the much-needed boost to their fighting

moral & spirit and would have put people like Sharif

in much stronger position to force the americans to

stop the ariel bombardment of his UICs and to come on knees.

[bambo]

Allamagan ^^^^

 

They are doing hit and run sxb , they are not organized as other freedon fighters in the muslim world , their numbers fairly small and are goin against huge army consist of U.S , Kenyan and Ethopia.

[Jabhad]

News : World Last Updated: Jan 27th, 2007 - 11:48:49

 

Breaking News: Are There US Soldiers Missing in Somalia?

Posted By: By Scott A Morgan

Jan 27, 2007, 11:44

 

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Reports are emerging that the US Air Strikes in Southern Somalia have

a new wrinkle. According to an Arab Language Newspaper published in the Gulf State of Qatar they have received reports from both Arab and Western Diplomats that US troops are currently missing in the southern part of Somalia.

 

Late last year US Special Forces and Marines were known to have been training in Northeastern Kenya. It should be noted that the Muslim Population in that part of the country were highly suspicious of US goals and agenda while there. While in the region US forces sought to repair schools and provide Medical Care to the destitute. Muslim tribesmen felt that the US was conducting an intel OP to see who was trying to cross the border into Somalia.

 

When the Somali Transitional National Government along with Ethiopian Assistance put the Union of Islamic Courts to flight there were several movements by the US Military. Two warships moved close to the Somali coastline to interdict any attempt by the UIC to flee the region by sea. They were later augmented by the Eisenhower Battle Group. It was also reported that US Special Forces also assisted Kenyan Forces in closing the land crossings with Somalia.

 

So far this month the US has launched two air strikes on purported terrorist sites in Somalia. Oxfam stated that at least 70 nomads were killed in one air strike. This report has not been confirmed however by either Central Command or the Pentagon. So the question that they have been taken hostage in revenge of the Air Strikes cannot at this time be discounted as a revenge mission by angry and distraught people.

 

Recently the US Ambassador to Kenya met with the leader of the defeated mission. The purpose was to ascertain both the status and the whereabouts of the missing American Soldiers. It was also urged that the leader of the UIC return to Somalia to take part in a Unity Government.

 

Right now the US Government should not only be concerned with restoring a legitimate Government in Somalia but also in locating our missing soldiers and defeating the terrorists. Lets hope that this doesn’t reopen old wounds.

http://www.kenyanewsnetwork.com/artman/publish/article_2467.shtml