20100115
africanews

The Italian government has pledged to train anti-terrorist police forces and coast guard from the Somali government battling Islamist insurgents.
Speaking to reporters in Nairobi, Italy foreign Minister Franco Frattini said that Italian military police were ready to train these forces in neighboring Kenya.

Frattini said: "We offered to President Sharif to form a very strong anti-terrorist police for Somalia".

Italy mentioned Ahmed's government as the best option, "We have no choice but to support this government", Frattini said after talks with Somali President Sharif Ahmed in Nairobi.

Islamist insurgents run most of southern Somalia and government controls a few areas in the capital Mogadishu, where AU sent 5,000- strong peacekeepers. Western security agencies warned that Somalia is becoming a haven for international terrorists.

Frattini said Italy will pay the daily operation of Somalia's foreign affairs, finance and national security ministries although he was short of stating an amount.

USA gave weapons to the government last year, but sources said some of those weapons were handed over to insurgents by Somali Forces who complain of not being paid.

Italian foreign minister has urged other international donors to fulfill their pledges to fund Somali government.

Nicholas Bwakira, former AU envoy to Somalia had said that donors had only paid 30% of promise made in Belgium nine months ago. Donors pledged more than $250 million to support Somali government and AU peacekeepers at that time.