WORLD IN BRIEF : SOMALIA : U.S. Says Violence Won’t Delay Pullout

Nigerian troops serving with a U.S.-led coalition unleashed machine-gun fire and stormed a building after snipers fired at them. But U.S. officials said recent violence would not delay U.S. troops’ withdrawal. In Washington, the White House expressed optimism that the U.S.-led forces would hand over peacekeeping duties to U.N. forces, probably in mid-April. U.N. Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali has been studying a May 1 transfer date. But his spokesman, Joe Sills, was less optimistic. “Obviously these events will have an effect and will have to be considered,” Sills said. Meanwhile, 400 more troops left Somalia, dipping U.S. military strength below 17,000.