Government troops 'regain control' of rebel Comoros island

Comoran troops assault rebel Anjouan island

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Tuesday, 25, Mar 2008 01:34

Federal troops from Comoros have regained control of a rebel island following an African Union-supported operation.

A composite force of more than 1,000 AU troops and at least 400 Comoran soldiers landed at Anjouan earlier today.

There are no reported casualties and the majority of rebel troops have abandoned their posts, it is understood.

But rogue president Colonel Mahamed Bacar, whose re-election to the head of the Anjouan authorities was rejected by the Union of Comoros last June, remains at large.

"We need to capture him, take him to court so he can answer his crimes against humanity and the people of Anjouan," Comoran government spokesman Abdul Rahim Said Bakar told the al-Jazeera news agency.

Gunfire and explosions have been reported by eyewitnesses following Tuesday's assault, which was preceded by helicopter-dropped leaflets warning the island's 300,000 residents to remain in their houses.

"The National Army of Development informs all the residents that it will be in Anjouan in the days, or rather the hours coming," the leaflets read.

"It is therefore advised that residents do not stray too far from their residences."

The president of Comoros, three islands 250 miles off Africa's south-east coast, approved the military operation on Sunday.

"I have ordered the Comoran army and the forces of our country's friends to bring Anjouan back under the rule of law and free her citizens," said Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi.

Comoros has suffered from more coups than any other African nation, with at least 20 taking place since independence from France in 1975.

A peaceful compromise was achieved in 2001 when the islands of Grand Comore, Moheli and Anjouan were granted greater autonomy and their own presidents – a situation shattered by the AU's rejection of Col Bacar as Anjouan president last year.