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Ethiopia: al-Qaida Operating in Somalia
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-ethiopia-somalia,1,1235371.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia -- Ethiopia's prime minister said Thursday he believes it is common knowledge that an al-Qaida terror cell is operating in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, and that only a stable central government can end the chaos in the Horn of Africa country and eliminate terrorist threats.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said his government supported the transitional Somali government that was formed in neighboring Kenya last year and would do everything possible to help that government take power. He said, though, he would only send troops to Somalia in self defense, since it is up to Somalis themselves to install the first effective central government in 14 years.

"Wherever there is distress, wherever there is acute poverty, social dislocation, the potential for a terrorist state exists," Meles said. "We have a very active terrorist cell in Mogadishu, which has been involved in terrorist activities in Kenya."

Kenya was the site of two major terrorist attacks. A car bomb destroyed the U.S. Embassy in 1998, and a car bomb was detonated outside of a hotel on the Indian Ocean coast in 2002. The masterminds of both attacks reportedly fled to Somalia, though most Somalis reject that claim.

Somalia has been without a central government since clan-based warlords overthrew the dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. Warlords then turned on each other, plunging the nation of 7 million into anarchy. An estimated 10,500 armed fighters operate in Mogadishu.

The African Union Peace and Security Council, also based in Addis Ababa, met Thursday to discuss plans to send troops to Somalia to guarantee the safety of the government-in-exile, which was formed after two years of peace talks in Kenya.

The international community needs to be more proactive in helping the Somali government establish itself, African Union Commission Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare told the meeting.

"Should the international community fail to act decisively to sustain the gains of the reconciliation process, there is a risk that the effort thus far deployed will be put to waste," said Konare.

Meles told AP the new government stood the best chance of shutting down the terror cell in Somalia.

"We have offered to help," Meles said. "Should the process collapse -- we very much hope it doesn't but if it does -- we plan to protect ourselves, not sort out the mess in Somalia."

In an African Union report obtained by AP, officials proposed that a 1,700-strong peacekeeping force go to Somalia two weeks ahead of the government's return to the country, and stay for nine months to protect the government, secure supply routes and carry out reconnaissance missions.

The report, which is being discussed at the African Union Peace and Security Council meeting, says the force will be composed equally of troops from Uganda and Sudan and will cost $100 million.

Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi told journalists his government will relocate to Somalia by month's end and the proposed peacekeeping force will join them there.

"We think we can bring stabilization to Somalia and pacification within nine months," Gedi said.