STORY: SOMALIA - AMISOM ADVANCE INTO KISMAYO TRT: 2.

13 SOURCE: AU/UN IST RESTRICTIONS: This media asset is free for editorial broadcast, print, online and radio use. It is not to be sold on and is restricted for other purposes. All enquiries to news@auunist.org CREDIT REQUIRED: AU/UN IST LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS DATELINE: 30 SEPTEMBER 2012, DHOBLEY, SOMALIA SHOTLIST 1. Wide shot, Brigadier Anthony Ngere and senior officials of the Kenya Defence Force (KDF) in Dhobley 2. Close, Brig. Ngeere talking 3. Med shot, Brig. Ngere chatting with senior officials 4. Close up, map showing Kismayo 5. SOUNDBITE (English), Brigadier Anthony Ngere , African Union Mission in Somalia(AMISOM) Commander for Sector 2 "Yesterday we liberated Canjeel, which is about 20 km from Kisyamo town, today we have managed to get as close as 5km from Kisyamo town from where we are going to make further plans for the complete liberation of Kismayo city." 6. Wide shot, AMISOM troops in Dhobley 7. Med shot, troops getting instructions 8. Close up, soldier listening 9. Med shot, more troops 10. Brigadier Anthony Ngeere, Brigadier Anthony Ngeere , African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Commander for Sector 2 "Right now the troops which beach landed in Kismayo are controlling the northern part of Kismayo, this includes the university the old airport and to some extent Goboweni bridge, which is a very strategic bridge, because it connects Kismayo to the rest of the northern part of the city." 11.Med shot, soldiers onto of the military vehicles 12. Wide shot, military vehicles moving 13. Med shot, KDF soldiers leaving STORY Somali government forces with the support of troops from the African Union Mission in Somalia have advanced to within 5km of the port city of Kismayo, a day after they pushed Al Qaeda-affiliated militants from the southern Somali town of Canjeel. Troops from the Kenya contingent of AMISOM under the leadership of Brigadier Anthony Ngeere, have been making ground over the weekend, moving closer to capture the port city, an economic hub of the al Shabaab militias.

SOUNDBITE (English), Brigadier Anthony Ngere , African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Commander for Sector 2 "Yesterday we liberated Canjeel, which is about 20 km from Kisyamo town, today we have managed to get as close as 5km from Kisyamo town from where we are going to make further plans for the complete liberation of Kismayo city." He added that the aim is to degrade the ability of the extremists to threaten and oppress the people of Somalia, and to disrupt the countrys peace process. On friday (28th September 2012) , an advance AMISOM force made an amphibious landing on the beaches north of Kismayo and has so far secured the northern parts of the city with a secondary force is approaching the city from the North West. Over the last two months, they have secured a string of towns and centres on the road between Afmadow and Kismayo. These include Miido, Bibi and Jana Cabdalla. SOUNDBITE (English), Brigadier Anthony Ngere, Brigadier Anthony Ngere , African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Commander for Sector 2 "Right now the troops which beach landed in Kismayo are controlling the northern part of Kismayo, this includes the university the old airport and to some extent Goboweni bridge, which is a very strategic bridge, because it connects Kismayo to the rest of the northern part of the city." Brigadier Ngeere says his troops are taking every precaution necessary to minimize the impact of our operations on the civilian populace, establishing No-Fire Zones around markets, schools, mosques and hospitals. He called on any al Shabaab fighters remaining in the city to lay down their arms. He also urged the international community and humanitarian agencies to expedite the provision of much needed humanitarian assistance to the population in the liberated areas. As AMISOM forces continue to secure more ground, this has given an added impetus to the Somali peace process. Today, the country has a legitimate provisional constitution as well as a broadly representative parliament. It has also held an open and competitive presidential election leading to a peaceful transfer of power, the first time that has happened in Somalia in over four decades.