US denies military plans in Somalia

Washington:  The United States on Friday denied coordinating plans by Somalia's embattled government to launch an offensive against Islamic fighters, saying it had no plans to "Americanise" the conflict.

Assistant Secretary of State Johnnie Carson described as inaccurate reports suggesting that US officials were ready to get more militarily involved as Somalia's government fights the Islamist Al Shabaab, which has been linked to Al Qaida.

"The United States does not plan, does not direct, and does not coordinate the military operations of the TFG [Transitional Federal Government] and we have not and will not be providing direct support for any potential military offensives," Carson said.

Limited support

Carson told a news briefing the United States had provided limited military support to the transitional government, but that almost all of this was channelled through an African Union peacekeeping effort.

Al Shabaab fighters attacked government positions last week seeking to seize the advantage before a long-awaited government offensive to drive them out of Mogadishu, the capital.

Carson said the United States had provided about $185 million (Dh679 million) over the last 19 months to support African Union peacekeepers and about $12 million in direct support to the Somali transitional government.

"The amounts of money that we're talking about are really relatively small," he said.

Somalia has lacked an effective central government for 19 years.

Western and neighbouring countries say Somalia has become a sanctuary for militants.