AYOUB Posted February 28, 2007 Uganda talks to Islamic Court militia Tuesday, 27th February, 2007 HELLO: Ward meets Museveni at State House, Nakasero By Felix Osike PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni last night said Uganda is talking to the Islamic Court militia in Somalia ahead of the UPDF deployment in Mogadishu. The Islamists, who were ousted by a joint Somali-Ethiopian force last December, had vowed to fight the Ugandan led peacekeeping operation, due to start in the next days. “The militias have no good reasons to be worried about us,” Museveni said. “Our job will be mainly to train the Somali army. We shall involve this militia. We are already talking to them. Our role is not to disarm them but to help the transitional government.” Asked how UPDF soldiers will be protected against attacks, the President said: “We shall take precautions against the terrorists. There will be no delay. Parliament has approved and we are now moving.” On the funding of the mission, Museveni said the US has financed the operation through the African Union. He denied allegations that America is using Uganda as the policeman of the region. “Uganda to be a police man of anybody would be a radical departure of our long history. We always exercise an independent foreign and domestic policy. Where our interests coincide, we share with them.” Museveni, flanked by US General William E. ‘Kip’ Ward, addressed the press to announce a partnership with the US on peace efforts in the region. Gen. Ward praised Uganda for the support in trying to bring peace and stability to the African continent. The American General Ward said he was optimistic that the Somali operation would be successful. “The conditions are certainly very different from the time the US went in on a humanitarian mission.” Museveni declined to give details on the departure date of the UPDF. However, Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf said a first deployment of troops from Uganda should begin in the first week of March, according to Reuters. The main base for the troops would be the former Somali defence ministry building in Mogadishu - now the headquarters of the Ethiopian forces, the Somali defence minister announced. A senior Somali official said the government had prepared two camps for the peacekeepers - in Afgoye, 30 kilometres (18 miles) west of the coastal capital and another nearby. AU peacekeepers will guard Mogadishu international airport and the main port, the official added. web page Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Taliban Posted February 28, 2007 Originally posted by AYOUB_SHEIKH: “The militias have no good reasons to be worried about us,” Museveni said. Museveni shouldn't worry about the Islamic insurgency; he should worry about his men who will certainly lose their lives. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
