Somali government hails rescue of U.S. hostage

[cali]

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Somalia's fledgling government applauded on Sunday the release of an American hostage whose five-day capture by pirates in the Indian Ocean highlighted lawlessness both in and off the Horn of Africa nation.

"We are very happy at this action and the outcome," Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Omaar told Reuters by telephone from Djibouti. "It shows that the world will not accept criminality."

<snip>

The minister repeated a call for international support to strengthen the Somali government's security forces so they can tackle pirates themselves.

"The Somali government needs to shield the Somali people from these criminal gangs, who are not only destroying the reputation of the Somali people ... but are a danger to Africa," he said. "We ask the world community to assist our government so that we can take actions, protect our citizens and the world."

Omaar is part of a government formed earlier this year in the 15th attempt to restore central rule to Somalia since it slid into anarchy in 1991. The government faces a militant Islamist insurgency and has little territorial control outside the capital Mogadishu.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE53B1YM20090412

[endarkenment]

1. There is in reality no Somali government.

"The government faces a militant Islamist insurgency and has little territorial control outside the capital Mogadishu."

'nuff said.

[Stevenmarc]

2. Well of course they did, they might want a little foreign aid in the future.

[Raven]

3. And they probably should get it. I'd rather see that struggling

country get the money than some of our bloated banks.We need to pay attention to that continent and maybe we will now.