Kenya to stay in Somalia until 'threat' is gone

Kenya vowed to keep troops in Somalia as long as needed to prevent attacks on its soil by the Islamist group Shebab and called for reinforcements in an increasingly regionalised conflict.When the Kenyan government and the people of this country feel they are safe enough we shall pull back, the countrys military chief General Julius Karangi told journalists Saturday, refusing to put a timeline on the operation.Kenya sent an undisclosed number of troops into southern Somalia two weeks ago to fight Islamist rebels it blames for a spate of kidnappings.Karangi made clear however that Kenyas operation was limited, launched in response to what he described as a Shebab aggression despite the militias denial of any involvement in the recent abduction of several foreigners.We acted as a country on the spur of the moment, he said. At no point did we plan to enter Somalia and annex territory there.Officials present at the briefing dismissed earlier reports by other Kenyan officials that the government was ready to negotiate with the Shebab.