Somalia govt 'uninformed' of French raid: Defense Minister 14 Jan 14, 2013 - 9:48:39 PM
MOGADISHU, Somalia Jan. 14, 2013 (Garowe Online)
- The defense minister in Somalia
's federal government has told reporters that they were
'uninformed
' of the French military operation in Somalia, Garowe Online reports.
Abdihakim Mohamud Haji Fiqi, the Somali defense minister, told a Monday press conference in Mogadishu the Somali government sends condolences to the victims.
"The Somali Federal Government is very disappointed with France
's unilateral military action as the government was uninformed…The government will not tolerate similar unilateral actions in the future,
" said Defense Minister Fiqi
, echoing the words of Somali F
ore
ign Minister Fo
sia Yusuf Haji
Aden
who told reporters that the Somali government condem
ns the military raid.
The minister noted that Somali officials have previously tried measures to safely rescue the French hostage Denis Allex, who was kidnaped by Al Shabaab militants in 2009.
Al Shabaab militants have claimed that the hostage is
'alive
' but French officials have said that the hostage is
'believed
' to have died during the operation. Al Shabaab militants have also announced that a wounded French soldier captured during the fighting has
'died from his wounds
'.
