Noisy Demonstration Calls for U.S. Withdrawal From Somalia : Protest: About 40 demonstrators from conservative youth group burn U.N. flag to oppose America’s involvement in war-torn African nation.

About 40 people protesting United States intervention in Somalia burned a United Nations flag and shouted “U.S. out of the U.N.!” on Saturday morning as many passing motorists honked their horns in approval.

“I have a lot of friends in the Army,” said Richard Hutchings, 22, a UC Irvine student. “I don’t want to see them being dragged on the streets in Somalia.”

The demonstrators, most of them members of Young Americans for Freedom, a conservative political organization, shouted slogans and carried placards criticizing President Clinton’s decision to send more than 5,000 fresh troops to Somalia after at least 12 American servicemen were killed last week and scores wounded in fighting in Mogadishu, capital of the impoverished country.

They stood on Bristol Street, across from South Coast Plaza.

Jim Bieber, a national director for the Young Americans for Freedom, said his group has always opposed American intervention on behalf of other countries, including the deployment of troops for the Persian Gulf War.

“We would also not favor sending troops to Bosnia or any other country,” he said. “At least in the Gulf War we had a vested interest in oil. What are we going to get out of Somalia or Bosnia?”

Bieber also said the YAF adamantly opposes the United States acting as a policing nation on behalf of the U.N. “We have enough problems here in the United States without going to other countries. People are starving here, too.”

Other protesters shared similar viewpoints and opposed both Clinton’s and former President George Bush’s efforts to help Somalia.

Said Tammy Seitler, 25, a Chapman University student: “It’s not our problem. (Somalia’s) dictatorial leader can take care of their problems, not us.”

Another protester, Matt Zandi, 21, said: “We shouldn’t send our troops anywhere else--only if we have to protect our nation.”