2000 Newly Trained Somali Soldiers Arrive

The Somali transitional government’s security status received a boost Sunday when 2000 newly-trained soldiers returned to the country after completing training in neighbouring Ethiopia. Somali Defense Minister Muhiyadin Haji Mohamed informed members of the Somali parliament that the security forces included soldiers and police officers. The new forces arrived as Islamist rebels captured the towns of Burhakaba and Bardhere, both in Southern Somalia, last Saturday. [P.E]