Pentagon Details Plan to Evacuate Somalia Force

WASHINGTON —  The Pentagon on Thursday outlined plans to deploy several thousand American troops to help evacuate the last U.N. forces in Somalia and to retrieve dozens of U.S. tanks, armored vehicles and helicopters that were on loan to the United Nations.

A senior U.S. official said 2,731 Marines accompanied by four Navy warships, attack helicopters and AC-130 gunships will begin providing cover for the departing U.N. forces in about three weeks.

The United Nations formally requested U.S. protection out of fear that Somalia’s still-warring factions would attack U.N. troops as they made their exit. About 8,000 U.N. troops, mostly Pakistanis, are left in Somalia.

Washington also feared that Somali militiamen would try to take heavy weapons, including 30 M-1 tanks, 80 armored personnel carriers and 13 military helicopters, loaned to the U.N. troops.

U.S. officials said Thursday that leaders of major Somali factions in Mogadishu have assured American envoys that they will not attack U.S. or U.N. troops during the evacuation.

Even so, top Administration policy-makers were apprehensive. An Italian TV cameraman was killed in Mogadishu on Thursday, and thousands of clan members demonstrated against the presence of U.S. and U.N. forces.

A senior U.S. military official told reporters Thursday that American troops will be well equipped and supported during the operation and will be operating under rules of engagement that enable them to fire at anyone who threatens them.

Citing security reasons, U.S. officials declined to specify when the operation will begin but hinted that it will be in early March. U.N. forces had promised to be out of Somalia by March 31 but are speeding up their exit.

Officials said that the cost of the operation is likely to be about $15 million and will be borne entirely by the United States, which is leading the withdrawal.