(No Transcripts here) President Obama says the decision to send the reinforcements is designed, in part,to seize the initiative from the Taliban, which has been gaining ground in recent years.

VOA: standard.2009.12.08

Ugandan Minister of Defense, Crispus Kiyonga, said the African Union force, composed of 2,590 Ugandan troops and 1,600 from Burundi, has so far been able to defend the transitional government's state house, Mogadishu port and airport, but said reinforcements to al-Shabaab have created a difficult situation.

VOA: standard.2009.06.26