Saturday, September 28, 2013
Kenya’s interior minister said on Friday the country would not bow to Shabaab demands to pull troops out of Somalia following a devastating mall attack in Nairobi by the Al-Qaeda-linked insurgents.
“We went to Somalia because Al-Shabaab was a threat to national security… We will continue to take action on that front until our security and interests in the country are protected,” Joseph ole Lenku told reporters.
Somalia’s Shabaab chief Ahmed Abdi Godane said the Nairobi mall carnage in which at least 67 people were killed was a “message to Westerners,” who had “backed Kenya’s invasion (of Somalia) that has spilled the blood of the Muslims for the interest of their oil companies”.
In an audio message posted on an Islamist website, Godane threatened “more bloodshed” unless Kenya withdrew its troops.
Kenya invaded southern Somalia to attack Shabaab bases two years ago, and later joined the 17,700-strong African Union force deployed in the country.
Five suspected attackers were also killed in the four-day long siege
at the mall, while Lenku said police were now holding eight suspects.
“We are operating under the terrorism act which allows suspects to be
held for longer periods before they are arraigned in court,” Lenku
said.
Three others have been released without charge.