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03/19/2005:

"East Africans Agree to Send Some Troops to Somalia"

NAIROBI (Reuters) - East African peacemakers decided on Friday to send troops to Somalia from countries that do not border the lawless state, potentially defusing a constitutional standoff in Somalia's interim government.

``There will be no personnel at all (from bordering countries),'' said Ugandan Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa of the decision by east African peace body IGAD.

``It is cognizant of the sensitivities of the people of Somalia.''

Influential Somali warlords and militant Islamists have promised to attack any troops from neighboring states -- especially from traditional rival Ethiopia -- if they deploy as part of a planned African Union peacekeeping force.

The communique issued by IGAD on Friday said ``deployment will be undertaken by the remaining IGAD countries pending the deployment of the African Union force.''

The AU force has yet to be constituted, funded or given a deployment date.

President Abdullahi Yusuf, backed by Ethiopia, wants 7,500 AU and Arab League troops to help secure Somalia so his government can return home from Kenya, and has been adamant that border states be included.
Full Article: nytimes.com