Itar-Tass
Monday, March 12, 2007
“Now that Ethiopian forces have pulled out, the peacekeepers are responsible for the security of the airport and the adjoining terrain,” a representative of the African Union’s peacekeeping force in Somalia said on Sunday.
About 4,000 Somalian servicemen trained at a base 100 kilometers away from the capital city have arrived in Mogadishu. They are bound to restore peace and security in the city jointly with the African Union peacekeepers, said Deputy Defense Minister Salad Ali Jelle.
The first phase of anti-terrorist fight is over, and authorities are starting to ensure security, Jelle said. The national forces are controlling the situation throughout Somalia, and now have to restore stability in Mogadishu.
It is the most important to do away with forces, which are terrorizing the locals, he said.
Source: Itar-Tass, Mar 12, 2007