Peaceful impasse provokes 'invasion'

Publié le 23 mars 2008 par achaha

It will be one of the strangest invasions in history.

As Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the foreign minister, said this week, "there is no violence... no loss of life... no social unrest". It was "to some extent unusual to go militarily" into Comoros.

One thousand African Union (AU) troops had arrived by Saturday in the harbour of Fomboni on Moheli Island, ready to invade neighbouring Anjouan by sea, diplomatic sources said.

Residents on Moheli believed the offensive was to be launched late on Saturday night or on Sunday.

'We can't afford to close down for this'

President Thabo Mbeki intervened through diplomatic channels to prevent an invasion planned for last weekend, but military action now looks to be back on the cards.

At the heart of the matter appears to be a dispute over procedure. Elections were held in June last year, but postponed on Anjouan after reports of irregularities.

Source:IOL