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AFRICA NEWS
Germany extends military mission in Horn of Africa

KSK special forces soldier.
by Staff Writers
 Berlin (AFP) Nov 13, 2008
 The German parliament voted Thursday to extend the country's monitoring mission in the Horn of Africa as part of the US-led "war on terror" but lowered its troop levels.

The maximum level of soldiers that may serve in the maritime surveillance portion of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in eastern Africa was reduced to 800 from 1,400. There are currently fewer than 100 German troops in the region.

However the measure, passed with a large majority, rescinds the mandate of up to 100 German KSK special forces who were ready to aid US soldiers fighting insurgents under OEF in Afghanistan.

Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier had called for the end of the mandate as the elite soldiers had not been deployed in OEF in three years.

The KSK troops can, however, swing into action under the German mandate for participation in NATO's peacekeeping force in Afghanistan, which was extended last month.

Germany offered the United States "unconditional solidarity" after the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and parliament approved the engagement of up to 3,900 troops in OEF in Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa.

The mission in the Horn of Africa is aimed at stopping shipments of arms and materiel that could be used in militant attacks. They do not have a mandate to fight the rampant piracy in the region.

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AFRICA NEWS
Ivory trade thriving in China but signs of decline: watchdog
 Beijing (AFP) Nov 12, 2008
 The illegal trade in elephant tusks is thriving in Chinese markets and upscale hotels although there are signs the problem could be on the decline, an environmental group said Wednesday.






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