100 jihadists slain over bus massacre

NAIROBI: Kenyan security forces have pursued and killed more than 100 militants and destroyed their camp in Somalia after the ambush of a Nairobi-bound bus that killed 28 people, Deputy President William Ruto said yesterday.

Somalia’s Islamist al-Shabaab militants have claimed responsibility for the attack on Saturday, when gunmen ordered passengers on the bus to recite Qur’an verses and shot dead non-Muslims – 19 men and nine women – who could not.

The group said the killing outside Mandera, a town in the far north-east near the Somali and Ethiopian borders, was in retaliation for raids on mosques in the southern port city of Mombasa.

Kenyan police said on Saturday that security forces pursued the attackers as they fled to Somalia after the ambush.

“Two successful operations were carried out against the perpetrators of these murderous executions across the border. Our retaliatory action left in its trail more than 100 fatalities,” Ruto told a news conference in Nairobi.

He said a camp used by the attackers and four “technicals” – pick-up trucks mounted with guns – were also destroyed.

“Our message to them is clear: you may sneak and attack innocent civilians. But for any attack on Kenya and its people, we shall pursue you wherever you go,” Ruto said.

Saturday’s attacks drew international condemnation from Somalia, Britain, the US and UN.

Former prime minister Raila Odinga, an opposition leader, called on the government to do more to counter the country’s deteriorating security. “When can we expect an end to this?” he asked. – Reuters