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US, Kenya embark on military exercises January 16 2004 at 11:30AM Gearing up: United States marines pass Kenyan women in the coastal town of Lamu. The marines are carrying out a joint military exercise with the Kenyan army which is aimed at improving the east African country's range of crisis response techniques. Full story Photo: AFP Manda Bay - United States and Kenyan troops have embarked on joint military exercises on the Indian Ocean coast aimed at improving a broad range of crisis response techniques. The manoeuvres, code-named "Edged Mallet 4", are part of a series of annual drills which...

East Africa dispatch -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Idyllic hub of war on terror The presence of US forces in Lamu demonstrates east Africa's strategic importance to George Bush's fight against terror, says Jeevan Vasagar Tuesday January 6, 2004 Lamu, the guidebooks say, is "Kenya's Kathmandu" - a hot, dusty cluster of islands hugging the Indian Ocean coast. The muezzin's call echoes across serried rooftops, fishermen heave dhows across the dunes, and backpackers come to chill out at the end of an African trek. However, combat trousers are not a fashion statement for Lamu's latest wave of western visitors. Military ranges at the Manda...