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Unidentified troops take control of Comoros

MORONI ( AFP ) -- Troops claiming to be US soldiers landed on the Comoran isle of Moheli early Wednesday, seizing control of the security forces on the island, a former prime minister said by phone.
The invaders announced themselves as "the army of the United States" and said their intervention was linked to the fight against terrorism, said residents of the capital Fomboni, including ex-prime minister Mohamed Hassanari.
Telephone links with the island were cut shortly afterwards.
Around 100 armed men described as "white, some of them masked," disembarked at 5:30 a.m. (0230 GMT). They quickly took control of the army and police services on the island, the sources reported, without saying whether any fighting took place.
The troops distributed tracts saying they were a US army force and that their intervention was linked to the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington. "Your president is collaborating with terrorists, we are here to protect you," the statements read, calling on the local population to surrender their arms.
The identity of the troops remained unclear but a few weeks back locally-produced leaflets were distributed in the Comoran capital Moroni accusing head of state, Colonel Azali Assoumani of having terrorist links.
Moheli is the smallest of the islands in the Comoro archipelago.
A key referendum has been scheduled for December 23 in the Indian Ocean state as part of a reconciliation plan for the islands, which have long been riven by splits and coup attempts.
In the referendum, Comorans will be asked to approve or reject a constitution that gives the country's three islands -- Grande Comore, Anjouan and Moheli -- a greater degree of autonomy.
Anjouan unilaterally declared its independence in 1997.
Between the referendum and a presidential election due in March, a transitional regime is set to govern, to organise a donor conference and to finalise the devolution of powers to the islands.

The head of the armed group which controls Mohéli "speaks French without accent"

Wednesday December 19, 2001 - 6h39 GMT
MORONI, 19 déc (AFP) - a man presenting himself as the head of the group of armed men which took control Wednesday morning of the island comorienne of Mohéli speaks French without accent, announced with the AFP a sure source which discussed on the telephone with him since Moroni.
The man contacted with the seat of the gendarmerie of Fomboni, the "capital" of the island of Mohéli, "was presented in the form of a head of the group and speaks French without accent", ensured this source, under cover of anonymity.
"Of the armed men unloaded this morning on Mohéli", confirmed with the AFP an officer of the army of the Comoros, from which all the men early had in the morning to gain the great military base of Kandani, to six km in the north of the capital.
The government requisitioned a plane of the private company the Comoros Aviation to take along troops on Mohéli, one learned near the company.
Armed, white and black men, of which some carrying of the hoods, early unloaded Wednesday morning on Mohéli and took the control of the buildings of the army, of the gendarmerie and of the police force, to the AFP inhabitants contacted on the telephone indicated, including one former Prime Minister, Mohamed Hassanari.
The attackers launched leaflets affirming that they were "the army of the United States" and that their intervention was related to the fight against terrorism, according to inhabitants' of Fomboni. The communications with Mohéli were then cut.
The man who presents himself as the head of the group is satisfied to read this leaflet with his interlocutor before hanging up again, specified the source.

Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros and Mayotte

The Comoros has a lovely tropical climate, rich soil covering over one-third of the islands for producing every varitey of tropical fruit, vanilla, nutmeg and flora of every description. It has sparkling sandy beaches and-- thanks to being under the heel of Islamists-- is a third world s***hole despite having blessed by nature. Its neighboring island of Mayotte, claimed by Comoros, voted to become an overseas territory of France which has administered it for the past 30 years. Mayotte is everything that Comoros could be without the Islamists to keep it perpetually in dunghill status. (Click on the map to learn more)