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More peacekeepers headed to Somalia
KAMPALA, Uganda, Thousands of additional peacekeepers will be sent to Somalia to battle al-Qaida-linked militants, leaders of the African Union say.
The reinforcements are expected to include a battalion from the country of Guinea and several hundred soldiers from Djibouti, Voice of America reported Wednesday.
The additional troops will boost the AU mission in Somalia to nearly 10,000 soldiers as peacekeepers battle the al-Qaida-linked militants who claimed responsibility for the World Cup bombing in Kampala, Uganda.
The decision to increase troop strength came at an AU summit in Kampala that also called for a one-year suspension of the International Criminal Court warrant against Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir.
The arrest warrant has divided the continent's leaders, Voice of America said.
Many of the 30 African states that are party to the International Criminal Court support calls for the Sudanese leader's arrest, but AU Chairman Bingu wa Mutharika of Malawi said a year is needed to present Africa's views on the validity of the charges.
KAMPALA, Uganda, Thousands of additional peacekeepers will be sent to Somalia to battle al-Qaida-linked militants, leaders of the African Union say.
The reinforcements are expected to include a battalion from the country of Guinea and several hundred soldiers from Djibouti, Voice of America reported Wednesday.
The additional troops will boost the AU mission in Somalia to nearly 10,000 soldiers as peacekeepers battle the al-Qaida-linked militants who claimed responsibility for the World Cup bombing in Kampala, Uganda.
The decision to increase troop strength came at an AU summit in Kampala that also called for a one-year suspension of the International Criminal Court warrant against Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir.
The arrest warrant has divided the continent's leaders, Voice of America said.
Many of the 30 African states that are party to the International Criminal Court support calls for the Sudanese leader's arrest, but AU Chairman Bingu wa Mutharika of Malawi said a year is needed to present Africa's views on the validity of the charges.