Fatih Creative Commons License 2006.07.27 0 0 177
Mystery plane lands in Mogadishu
by
Thursday 27 July 2006 6:32 AM GMT

A cargo plane said to be loaded with weapons has landed in Mogadishu from Eritrea in violation of a United Nations arms embargo.


Somalia's transitional government said the plane that landed on Wednesday was carrying land mines, bombs and guns from Eritrea for the Islamic militia that has taken control of the capital and much of the south of the country.

The plane was reportedly met by two senior Islamic commanders and another member of the Supreme Islamic Council of Somalia (SICS).

Fighters chased journalists from the heavily guarded facility where the aircraft landed.

The plane's tail carried a flag from Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic that often makes its planes available for charter.

The United States has expressed concern about the involvement of Eritrea, and neighbour Ethiopia, in Somalia.

Ethiopian troops have reportedly entered the country to protect the largely powerless transitional government based in Badoia.