Cablegate: Somalia - Ambassador Visits Suicide Bombing Victims

VZCZCXRO0415
OO RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHNR #2469 3421246
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 081246Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1729
INFO RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CJTF HOA
RUZEFAA/CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUZEFAA/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RHMCSUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS NAIROBI 002469

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM KPAO SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA - Ambassador Visits Suicide Bombing Victims

REF: NAIROBI 2444

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Summary
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1. On December 7, Ambassador Ranneberger visited the fourteen
Somalis who had been flown to Nairobi for treatment after the
December 3 suicide bombing in Mogadishu. The visit was heavily
covered by the press. Post issued a local press release, reaching
media outlets inside Somalia. End summary.

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Ambassador Visits
Victims of Suicide Blast
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2. Ambassador Ranneberger visited Aga Khan University Hospital in
Nairobi on December 7 to offer support to the fourteen Somalis being
treated there after the December 3 suicidQblast in Mogadishu
(reftel). The Ambassador spoke with the patients as well as the
family of the badly-wounded Transitional Federal Government's (TFG)
Minister of Sports and Youth, emphasizing U.S. support for their
treatment and recovery. In remarks to a large contingent of Somali
and Kenyan press after the visit, the Ambassador reiterated messages
conveyed in the December 4 statement from the Department,
highlighting continuing U.S. support for the TFG and undQscoring
the message that attacks like the December 3 bombing only strengthen
the resolve of the U.S. government to assist Somalia.

3. Post issued a press release to local Somali and Kenyan media on
December 8.

Begin text:

United States Ambassador Michael Ranneberger visited victims of the
recent suicide bombing in Mogadishu at Aga Khan University Hospital
in Nairobi on December 7. The Ambassador offered words of support
on behalf of the American people to the fourteen wounded Somalis.
In remarks to the media following the visit, Ambassador Ranneberger
underscored the United States government's unwavering support to the
Transitional Federal Government and the people of Somalia. The
Ambassador emphasized that attacks like the suicide bombing do not
dissuade the United States and the international community from
assisting Somalia, but rather strengthen the resolve of all who are
working to help Somalia achieve peace and stability.

End text.

RANNEBERGER

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