Djibouti

TOKO MATERIAL 1. Tracking shot of exterior of Le Monier, a former French camp taken over by US troops five months ago 2. Tracking shot through barbed wire and planes in camp Le Monier 3. Tracking shot of US and Djibouti flags 4. Wide shot entrance of camp with marines standing outside, vehicle passing by goes through gate 5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mahamoud Ali: "The Americans contacted us and asked if Djibouti was ready to receive American military forces and we said ok there is no problem." 6. Wideshot of camp with US soldiers 7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahamoud Ali: "We expect more troops and I think that this has also been discussed with our American friends, that if they need other camps, we are ready to provide them with other camps, if they need other facilities, we are ready to provide them with these facilities." 8. Wideshot of vehicle 10. Midshot of two marines with guns standing in front of gates of camp STORYLINE: Hundreds of US troops have been conducting large-scale exercises in the strategically placed African nation of Djibouti for the last seven weeks. However, Djibouti will not be used as a base for any military action against neighbouring Yemen, according to the acting foreign minister. The exercises, which involve ground troops, helicopters, boats and AC130 aircraft fitted with air-to-surface missiles, began in August and are due to end in October, Mahamoud Ali told The Associated Press. Presently there are about 800 troops marines and National Guard in Djibouti involved in the exercises. The troops have taken over Le Monier barracks in Djibouti town while conducting exercises in northern and coastal areas, particularly around Obock, which lies across the Gulf of Tadjoura from Djibouti port on the Gulf of Aden. The Djiboutian authorities have put the nation's ports and airport at the disposal of US troops, and the Americans are expanding Le Monier camp, building roads and developing the airport, Ali said, adding that more US troops were expected. The Pentagon recently said it had sent hundreds of troops to the tiny nation wedged in the crook of the Horn of Africa, raising speculation that the US forces were preparing to mount operations to pursue al-Qaida suspects in Yemen, just across the Red Sea from Djibouti. The Marine amphibious assault ship Belleau Wood has been in waters between Yemen and the Horn since last month, and Ali said any operations could be launched off that vessel. US military officials and diplomats here have declined to comment on the presence or activity of US troops in Djibouti. Ali said Djibouti offered its services to the United States after the September 11 attacks and signed an agreement with President George W. Bush's administration five or six months ago. The acting foreign minister also said the Djiboutian government would provide sites if the US forces wanted to build bases in other parts of the country. Djibouti, a French colony until 1977 that boasts a modern deep water port, is ideally situated for monitoring sea traffic in the southern end of the Red Sea, the Bab al Mandeb strait, the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. The Muslim nation of about 740-thousand also shares a border with Somalia, a Muslim country that has not had an effective central government since 1991. After the Sept 11. attacks, Somalia was cited as a possible haven for terrorists, notably al-Qaida elements fleeing Afghanistan. Gen. Tommy Franks, head of the U.S. Central Command, visited Djibouti earlier this year. Germany has deployed some 1,000 troops in Djibouti as well as on three frigates and a tanker patrolling the waters off the Horn as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/7c1100567fa6707408dffdb1fe0d762f Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

• published: 21 Jul 2015
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