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| US President Obama |
By CNN and
Agenices
The U.S. government on Wednesday,July 18 issued its latest version of a worldwide safety caution Wednesday to U.S. citizens abroad. Terrorist groups "continue to plan terrorist attacks against U.S. interests in multiple regions, including Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East," a statement by the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs said. Travelers should be cautious when using public transportation systems, including maritime services like ferries, the statement said.
The Middle East and Africa are the most unpredictable areas, with terrorist groups and pirates attacking recently in Yemen, Algeria, Kenya and Somalia, the statement said. It listed a number of places that might be targeted, including "high-profile sporting events, residential areas, business offices, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, public areas, and other tourist destinations." Maritime authorities recommend Western seafarers stay at least 200 nautical miles off Somalia and avoid the port of Mogadishu, the statement said.
The U.S. government on Wednesday,July 18 issued its latest version of a worldwide safety caution Wednesday to U.S. citizens abroad. Terrorist groups "continue to plan terrorist attacks against U.S. interests in multiple regions, including Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East," a statement by the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs said. Travelers should be cautious when using public transportation systems, including maritime services like ferries, the statement said.
The Middle East and Africa are the most unpredictable areas, with terrorist groups and pirates attacking recently in Yemen, Algeria, Kenya and Somalia, the statement said. It listed a number of places that might be targeted, including "high-profile sporting events, residential areas, business offices, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, public areas, and other tourist destinations." Maritime authorities recommend Western seafarers stay at least 200 nautical miles off Somalia and avoid the port of Mogadishu, the statement said.
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| Somali President:Sheikh Sharrif |
Elsewhere Somali President Sheikh Sharrif Sheikh Ahmed denied allegations of corruption contained in a leaked UN’s Monitoring Group report that alleged that around 70% of money intended for development and reconstruction in a country racked by 20 years of war was unaccounted for.
Speaking at a
campaign rally held in Mogadishu on Wednesday where his supporters gathered to
lobby for his re-election, the president said the content of the leaked UN
report is absolutely unfounded, saying that when his government was formed in
Djibouti in 2009, they were not given funds to run the government, forcing it
to borrow money from Somali business people.
President Sharif expressed his dissatisfaction with the UN’s leaked report, saying it was timed to coincide with the end of transition period in order to discredit his government, adding that a similar report was also timed when the country was facing drought and famine crisis. Responding to particular reference made by the report on the alleged disappearance of a $3million donation from Oman Government, President Sharif said that all that money was used to pay off government expenses, including loans, security forces and parliament.
His sentiment comes just a day after Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali also denied allegations of corruption contained in a leaked UN report. A statement from the prime minister’s office said the allegations were “absolutely and demonstrably false”. Ali said that if some of the accusations contained in the report were not retracted, it “could result in [a] defamation and libel lawsuit”.
“The PMO [prime minister's office] takes great exception to the careless and irresponsible publication of false reports that can create wrong impressions and perceptions thereby misleading the Somali people,” the Somali government statement said. The UN-backed Somali government’s mandate expires next month when it is due to hand over to an elected president, few months after Somali factions have agreed to elect a new president, ending the transitional period by 20 August this year.
President Sharif expressed his dissatisfaction with the UN’s leaked report, saying it was timed to coincide with the end of transition period in order to discredit his government, adding that a similar report was also timed when the country was facing drought and famine crisis. Responding to particular reference made by the report on the alleged disappearance of a $3million donation from Oman Government, President Sharif said that all that money was used to pay off government expenses, including loans, security forces and parliament.
His sentiment comes just a day after Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali also denied allegations of corruption contained in a leaked UN report. A statement from the prime minister’s office said the allegations were “absolutely and demonstrably false”. Ali said that if some of the accusations contained in the report were not retracted, it “could result in [a] defamation and libel lawsuit”.
“The PMO [prime minister's office] takes great exception to the careless and irresponsible publication of false reports that can create wrong impressions and perceptions thereby misleading the Somali people,” the Somali government statement said. The UN-backed Somali government’s mandate expires next month when it is due to hand over to an elected president, few months after Somali factions have agreed to elect a new president, ending the transitional period by 20 August this year.
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