U.S. Marine Kills Somali Boy; Rival Leaders Told to List Forces

A U.S. Marine shot and killed a boy running toward him carrying a package Thursday.

The United Nations, meanwhile, said its troops could replace U.S. forces in Somalia in weeks. As part of efforts to make the country safe for that transition, the leaders of Somalia’s 14 main rival factions were asked by U.S. and U.N. military leaders to hand over lists of all their weapons and men.

In the Mogadishu shooting, the Marine thought the 13-year-old boy was going to throw the package at the Marine vehicle in which he was riding, Marine spokesman Col. Fred Peck said.

The incident illustrates the sometimes conflicting roles for U.S.-led forces: trying to keep peace for humanitarian missions while seeking to protect themselves against clan fighters, many of whom are just boys.

Two Marines and a civilian U.S. Army employee have been killed since U.S. forces arrived Dec. 9, followed by troops from 21 allied nations. The United States has pushed for a quick withdrawal of its forces and has accused the world body of delaying moves to take over the mission.

Asked about the transfer Thursday in New York, U.N. Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali said: “The sooner will be the better. I hope it is a question of weeks.” U.N. officials have been meeting with countries that may donate troops to a U.N.-led force.

Boutros-Ghali did not say how long the handoff would take, but previously predicted it could take up to six months.

The U.N. peacekeeping mission would replace a U.S.-led military force of about 38,000 personnel, allowing the United States to withdraw about 20,000 personnel.

Lt. Gen. Robert B. Johnston, commander of the U.S.-led military coalition in Somalia, and his U.N. counterpart, Gen. Imtiaz Shaheen of Pakistan, asked the faction chiefs in a letter to detail their men and arms.

The generals said they want both lists no later than Feb. 15, and would use them to implement cease-fire and disarmament agreements made by the factions last month in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The request for the lists came as U.N. spokesman Farouk Mawlawi revealed that U.S. and Belgian forces were “positioning themselves for a show of strength” against a warlord known as Gen. Morgan near the port of Kismayu.