The Associated Press
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
MOHELI, Comoros: Comoros Islands troops clashed with loyalists of the renegade military ruler of Anjouan during a weekend mission in the Indian Ocean archipelago that wounded two government soldiers, the army chief said Tuesday.
Chief of Staff Salim Mohamed said a reconnaissance team of about 10 soldiers landed Friday in the south of Anjouan island and reached the southern town of Domoni, where they attacked police and freed prisoners — apparently political prisoners.
Rebel leader Col. Mohamed Bacar seized control of the island after disputed elections in July.
The troops then retreated back to Moheli island and returned to Anjouan on Sunday to rescue the two wounded soldiers, Mohamed said.
He spoke on Moheli, where a force of Comoran government and African Union troops were preparing to retake Anjouan.
The army chief claimed the missions show Bacar does not have full control of Anjouan.
"We can land where we want. Believe me, if we'd wanted to capture Mohamed Bacar we could have done so. Mohamed Bacar's forces are nothing. He cannot control the island. Now, his forces are afraid of us," Mohamed boasted.
Local media reports said Bacar loyalists ambushed the Comoran troops on Anjouan's coast and that 10 of Bacar's renegades were killed. Mohamed made no mention of rebel casualties.
Mohamed said the operations did not represent the start of the joint Comoran and African Union invasion of the island, although he said that was imminent.
He said they were still awaiting the arrival of some Senegalese troops.
France's military transported about 300 Tanzanian troops and 30 tons of freight to Grand Comoros Island over the weekend, French military spokesman Christophe Prazuck said Tuesday.
A French diplomat said the French were ready to transport Senegalese troops as well, but had not yet done so.
The diplomat said France remains "favorable" to dialogue but on condition that Bacar accepts the presence of African troops at the port and airport of Anjouan. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
South Africa also has been counseling more dialogue, though the African Union has been trying to negotiate a settlement for months.
"We've done all the negotiating we can to avoid war but it has failed," Mohamed said. "The only way is war. There is no turning back now."
The Comoros, with a population of 700,000, has survived 19 coups and coup attempts that have threatened its unity since independence from France in 1975. Each of the three main islands has a regional president. The main leadership, under President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi, is based in Moroni on Grand Comoros. The island of Mayotte remains under French control.