NAIROBI, Kenya, March 24 (UPI) — Kenyan authorities Thursday denied reports that their military forces entered Somalia to take on fighters with al-Qaida affiliate al-Shabaab.

An official source in Kenya told the BBC that forces entered Somalia, though a police spokesman denied the claims.

Kenyan forces are backing the transitional government in Mogadishu and training pro-government forces. If the reports are accurate, the BBC said, it would be the first time Kenyan forces crossed into Somalia.

Al-Shabaab, the al-Qaida affiliate waging war against the interim government in Somalia, claimed responsibility for a suicide attack at a police station that killed 10 people, including civilians and high-ranking police officials in February.

Somalia hasn’t had a functioning government since 1991 and is one of the most corrupt nations in the world. The transitional government controls only a small fraction of the war-torn country.

The terrorist group claimed responsibility for twin attacks July 11 in Kampala that killed more than 70 people during celebrations for the World Cup.

Kenya’s Standard newspaper adds 12 militants were killed during fighting along the eastern border with Somalia.

upi.com

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