EU 'navy' launches strike on pirates

European Union Naval Force (EUNF) said maritime aircraft and helicopters took part in attacks along the coastline of the Galmudug region.

No casualties were reported in the raid but pirate commander Bile Hussein said Handulle village was hit and speed boats, fuel depots and an arms store were destroyed.

Royal Navy officer and EUNF commander Duncan Potts said: "The EU action against pirate supplies on the shoreline is merely an extension of the disruption actions carried out against pirate ships at sea."

The EU launched Operation Atalanta in 2008 to protect ships from pirates operating around Somali.

In March, the EU council of ministers authorised attacks on Somali coastal territory.

Admiral Potts said the force will increase pressure to disrupt pirates' efforts to get out to sea and attack merchant shipping and local boats.

The EU is the main donor to the Somali transitional government, it trains its troops and is equipping the navies of five neighbouring countries.

In Uganda, US military advisers are training African Union soldiers to fight Somalia's al-Shabab armed opposition movement.

Earlier this year a small contingent of US marines joined military contractors at the US-built Singo training base in Uganda

The US State Department is currently training 3,500 Ugandan troops there.

Private Virginia-based outfit Military Professional Resources has the current contract to conduct the programme at Singo. Up to two dozen trainers work along with French, British and Ugandan military personnel.

The contractors were not permitted to speak on the record to reporters during a recent media visit to the base, but one said all are ex-military and most have had experience in either Iraq or Afghanistan.

Al-Shabab militants recently started using makeshift obstacles and traps to take out tanks patrolling Mogadishu. About 20 US marines are teaching Ugandan forces combat engineering skills.