US clears way to arm, train Somali forces

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is clearing the way for the US to arm or train Somali forces fighting militants linked to al-Qaeda.

Obama said in a memo Monday that he’s determined that providing defense equipment and services to Somalia will strengthen US security and promote peace.

Somalia is trying to establish its first functional government after two decades of chaos. African forces there have been fighting al-Shabab, a militant group loosely associated with al-Qaeda, since 2006.

The US is already helping fund, arm and train troops from other African nations leading the fight against North Africa extremists. Obama said in his State of the Union address that the US will need to help Somalia, Yemen and Libya provide their own security to curb extremist threats.

On Sunday the British government said it believes terrorists are in the final stages of planning attacks in Somalia and urged UK nationals to leave the country.

The Foreign Office already advises against all travel to Somalia, including Somaliland, where it says there is a specific threat to Westerners.

It said Saturday it had revised its travel advice to reflect concerns that terrorists are in the final stages of plotting attacks in Mogadishu, the Somali capital.

Britain has no diplomatic representation in Somalia and is unable to provide consular assistance in the country.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.