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Top US commander General Tommy Franks has admitted sending additional forces to the Horn of Africa to help in the global fight against terrorism.
Addressing a briefing at the Pentagon on Tuesday, Franks - who is the commander of the US Central Command - said 700-800 troops had been sent to Djibouti.
"We do have more forces in that region [Horn], down around Djibouti," he said. "If you look at the global war on terrorism, then what you see...we said a long time ago, first off we're going to rout the terrorists out of Afghanistan and get rid of the Taliban.
"We also said that there are going to be some friendly nations and we're going to want to work with them in order to help them help themselves get over the terrorist problem. And we also said it may be necessary from time to time to coerce others to get rid of the terrorist problem."
However, he pointed out that the US also had "security relationships or engagement opportunities" in countries such as Kenya, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Yemen. "And so having that force there gives us the ability to increase our exercise work with all those nations," he said.
He stressed that the troops were not based in Eritrea, despite speculation that the US has been looking to use the Red Sea port of Assab.
"No, they're based in Djibouti. They're not based in Eritrea," he said. "Some are ashore and some are afloat. We have an afloat command and control capability that we move around, and so one may well see that afloat capability."
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