spectre919
02-01-2007, 15:18
Sub-Saharan Africa,
The USA and the Somali Union of Islamic Courts have discussed how the US soldiers abducted in Somalia could be released. The US marines were abducted during recent fighting initiated by the Ethiopian forces and backed by the US marines against forces loyal to the Union of Islamic Courts in Somalia.
Diplomatic sources in Kenya say the leader of the Union of Islamic Courts, Shaykh Sharif Shaykh Ahmad, and US ambassador to Kenya, Michael Ranneberger, have so far held about four consecutive meetings.
An official close to Shaykh Sharif Shaykh Ahmad, who spoke to the international media, said that the two officials discussed various issues, which include how to free about 11 US soldiers, who were abducted by forces loyal to the Union of Islamic Courts in southern Somalia.
The two officials also discussed how Ethiopian forces could make a complete withdrawal out of Somalia.
Shaykh Sharif has set conditions for the release of the US soldiers saying that the US should first halt the air raids against Somalia and also transfer him from Kenya to Yemen.
He also said that Ethiopian forces should completely pull out of Somalia.
It is not yet clear whether or not the USA has accepted the conditions which the Shaykh has tied to the release of its soldiers.
Apparently this is becoming a popular tactic for our opponents. This just seems to be suspicious having some knowledge of MC doctrine.
The USA and the Somali Union of Islamic Courts have discussed how the US soldiers abducted in Somalia could be released. The US marines were abducted during recent fighting initiated by the Ethiopian forces and backed by the US marines against forces loyal to the Union of Islamic Courts in Somalia.
Diplomatic sources in Kenya say the leader of the Union of Islamic Courts, Shaykh Sharif Shaykh Ahmad, and US ambassador to Kenya, Michael Ranneberger, have so far held about four consecutive meetings.
An official close to Shaykh Sharif Shaykh Ahmad, who spoke to the international media, said that the two officials discussed various issues, which include how to free about 11 US soldiers, who were abducted by forces loyal to the Union of Islamic Courts in southern Somalia.
The two officials also discussed how Ethiopian forces could make a complete withdrawal out of Somalia.
Shaykh Sharif has set conditions for the release of the US soldiers saying that the US should first halt the air raids against Somalia and also transfer him from Kenya to Yemen.
He also said that Ethiopian forces should completely pull out of Somalia.
It is not yet clear whether or not the USA has accepted the conditions which the Shaykh has tied to the release of its soldiers.
Apparently this is becoming a popular tactic for our opponents. This just seems to be suspicious having some knowledge of MC doctrine.