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Troubles in Somalia

Last week, the United States launched an air strike on southern Somalia. U.S. officials believe that al-Qaeda terrorists are hiding out in the eastern African nation. Al-Qaeda is responsible for the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the United States.

Somalia has been in a state of upheaval. On Christmas Eve, several thousand troops from neighboring Ethiopia invaded the country. Their goal was to get rid of Islamic fundamentalist forces who had gained control of the country. The Islamist forces retreated. Now a temporary government is in charge.

A top target of last week's raid was Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, a high-ranking member of al-Qaeda. Fazul is believed to be responsible for deadly attacks on U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. He has been one of the FBI's most-wanted terror suspects for eight years. U.S. officials do not believe that Fazul was killed in the air strike.

U.S. leaders have long suspected that terrorists have been hiding in Somalia. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged diplomacy. "We must make every effort to protect civilians and be cautious of unintended consequences," he said.

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