Kenya vows crackdown on Somali militant group

NAIROBI - Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki on Monday reiterated the government's resolve in dealing with the militant group based inside Somalia that has sought to destabilize not just Kenya but the entire Horn of Africa region.

Kibaki pointed out that the transformation of the African continent will only be achieved through a secure and peaceful environment, adding that Kenya has taken a stand for peace and stability in the region and will not waver in that endeavor.

"This is the only way that we can develop our continent and implement infrastructure projects that are cross border in nature, " President Kibaki said when he opened the first ever Africa Congress of Accountants in Nairobi.

President Kibaki emphasized that a lasting solution to the long standing instability in Somalia is not only good for the Horn of Africa region but the entire African continent.

"A solution to the long standing instability in Somalia is good for the Horn of Africa and indeed the entire African continent," said Kibaki whose country hosted a protracted negotiation that led to the formation of the transitional government of Somalia.

The President said Kenya intends to complete the work and operation that has begun inside Somalia in order to create a strong foundation for the continent's prosperity.

The remarks come as Kenyan soldiers have closed in on a militant-held town in their two week-long effort to push back the extremists blamed for suicide bombings, kidnapping foreigners and killing famine victims.

Kenya's deployment in southern Somalia from October16, its largest foreign deployment since independence, came after Al-Shabaab kidnapped four Europeans in the last six weeks.

Meanwhile, Kenya police reservist was killed in Damasa border village in Lafey District of Mandera district on Sunday night, in a weekend which witnessed a stepped up incursions by sympathizers of the Somali anti-government group Al-Shabaab in North-Eastern region bordering the war-torn Somalia.

The police reservist Kerow Ali died on spot after he was shot several times on the head and chest during a heavy gun battle between the militia group and the police at Damasa Administration police line.

Speaking to Xinhua on phone from Damasa where he went to console and witness what happened on fast hand, Lafey District Commissioner Jacob Ruto said the police reservist got shot in the ensuing fierce shot-out with the Al-Shabaab group who attempted to over run the Administration police camp.

The administrator said the militia men believed to be numbering over twenty and heavily armed is suspected to have sneaked through the porous border staged a daring attack on the administration police line at around 11 p.m. (2000 GMT) in bid to capture the camp unawares.

He however, said the officers supported by the local Kenya police reservist were on high alert at the camp since they had earlier intelligent reports of an imminent attack targeting the camp.

"By the time the militia approached the camp to take strategic positions to lunch their cowardly attack, our security officers took them by surprise by firing on them. The scared bandits started shooting back and fierce gun fight ensued," Ruto said.

"In the fighting that lasted over thirty minutes our KPR officers was shot and killed. But at the end of the fighting our security personnel outgunned them and they took to their heels on hot pursuit by our officers," he said.

The administrator said some of the attackers were also believed to have been injured as the locals spoke of hearing cries of persons in retreating bandits shouting not to be left behind due to their injuries.