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| Africa Horn | ||
| Somalia: President Yusuf okays Russian ships in pirate fight | ||
| 2008-10-02 | ||
| (SomaliNet) Somalia's ambassador to Moscow said Wednesday that Somalia welcomes Russian help in fighting piracy off its coast and is "not satisfied" with warships from other countries. Ambassador Mohammed Mahmud Handule said at a press conference in Moscow that Somlai President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed "gave permission for Russian ships to enter the sea (off Somalia) and fight the pirates in the sea and on the coast." Handule spoke as a Russian warship headed to the African country's coast amid a standoff between the US Navy and Somali pirates over a hijacked Ukrainian cargo ship carrying tanks and other arms. The Somali ambassador criticised the activities of foreign warships off Somalia, although he did not name any countries. "Many warships can be found near our shores, but we are not satisfied with the results of their activities," said Handule.
Handule also offered warm words for Moscow, a former Cold War ally of Somalia. The enovy praised Russia's conduct in its war with Georgia in August and said Somalia would follow Moscow in recognising the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the rebel Georgian regions at the heart of the war.
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| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Ambassador from non-country Somalia to Moscow. Sorta computes. Yeah, it does make sense. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2008-10-02 21:11 |