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From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Fri Mar 04 2011 - 12:04:46 EST
AP: 53 peacekeepers killed in Somalia offensive
(AP) -
04/03/2011
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - More than 50 African Union peacekeepers have died in
fighting in Somalia since a major offensive against Islamist militants began
two weeks ago, officials told The Associated Press on Friday.
The death toll is far higher than any publicly acknowledged casualty figures
for the African Union, which appears to be trying to keep the extent of its
losses under wraps due to political considerations in Burundi, one of two
nations providing the bulk of the forces.
The African Union force, known as AMISOM, has publicly confirmed only a
handful of deaths since heavy fighting broke out in Somalia on Feb. 19. An
AMISOM spokesman in Nairobi did not answer calls Friday. The Burundian
government spokesman was unavailable for comment.
Wafula Wamunyinyi, the second-highest ranking official on the AU's
commission for Somalia, declined to discuss casualty figures when reached
Friday.
"I don't have that information where I am now," he said.
Two Nairobi-based diplomats said at least 43 Burundian and 10 Ugandan troops
have been killed since Feb. 18, citing information from people involved in
the operation. The two spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not
authorized to speak to the press.
In addition, a Burundian soldier has been captured alive by militants, and
his image and a recorded statement have been circulating on websites used by
al-Shabab, Somalia's most dangerous insurgent group.
AMISOM says hundreds of militants from al-Shabab have been killed in the
offensive. AMISOM officials say peacekeepers have taken back
insurgent-controlled areas of Mogadishu, the capital. The A.U. says it
controls up to 60 percent of the city.
There are around 8,000 A.U. forces in Mogadishu, with another 4,000 due to
arrive over the next few months. Almost all are Ugandan or Burundian. They
support the country's weak U.N.-backed government against al-Shabab,
factions of which have allegiance to al-Qaida.
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