"High alert" on Somali border

Kenyan security forces in the Northeastern province have been placed on high alert following threats from Somali militia that they would attack Kenyan border settlements which they claim are "harbouring" rival groups. The Kenyan 'Daily Nation' quoted Northeastern Provincial Commissioner (PC) Maurice Makhanu on Thursday as saying the Somali Patriotic Movement (SPM) had warned it would attack Kenya in search of Auliyahan clan militia. He denied Kenya was "harbouring" Somali militiamen and vowed to "fight back any militia incursion from Somalia". "We have tolerated them for too long and Kenya will from now on safeguard its territorial sovereignty," he was quoted as saying. "Any attempt from any quarter to abuse it will be dealt with the necessary force." Heavy fighting between two rival clans for control of the Somali border town of Doblai last week left more than 50 dead and scores of others seriously wounded, the 'Daily Nation' said.