WASHINGTON (Agencies)
The United States late on Friday denied coordinating plans by Somalia's embattled government to launch an offensive against Islamist fighters, saying it had no plans to "Americanize" the conflict.
Assistant Secretary of State Johnnie Carson described as inaccurate reports suggesting that U.S. officials were ready to get more militarily involved as Somalia's government fights the Islamist al-Shabab, which has been linked to al-Qaeda.
" We are not providing nor paying for military advisors for the TFG. There is no desire to Americanize the conflict in Somalia " Assistant Secretary of State Johnnie Carson "The United States does not plan, does not direct, and does not coordinate the military operations of the TFG (transitional federal government) and we have not and will not be providing direct support for any potential military offensives," Carson said.
He insisted that The New York Times inaccurately reported last week that U.S. special operations forces could help the Somali government dislodge Qaeda-linked insurgents Shabab from Mogadishu.
"We are not providing nor paying for military advisors for the TFG. There is no desire to Americanize the conflict in Somalia," Carson said.
Asked to comment on the Somali government's reconciliation strategy, he said the TFG should "broaden its base as much as possible, to bring in as much clan as possible."
In Washington's view, he added, "any moderate Islamists who are seeking peace, are denouncing Shabab and want to be part of a peace process should in fact be considered for inclusion in the TFG government."
Mogadishu and other parts of central and southern Somalia under insurgent control have been bracing for a major offensive by the government and the African Union peacekeeping mission, known as AMISOM.
The head of the U.S. Africa Command, General William Ward, told a Senate hearing Tuesday that he supported the TFG's effort to retake Mogadishu and bring stability to their nation.
U.S. President Barack Obama's administration has stepped up support for the TFG, sending it weapons since last year to help fend off the Shabab.
Many Americans remain haunted by the last U.S. intervention in Somalia which began as a relief operation to avert famine in the early 1990s.
In October 1993, forces loyal to warlord Mohamed Farah Aidid killed 18 U.S. soldiers, dragging some of their bodies through the streets.
More than 100,000 people have been forced to flee their homes across Somalia since the start of the year amid "relentless and indiscriminate" fighting, the UN refugee agency said Friday. |
