Washington, February 07, 2007 – The United   States will take strong measures to strike against Islamic terrorists' activities inside and outside Somalia, Jendayi Frazer, assistant secretary of state for African affairs said on Tuesday.

" Somalia's continued exploitation by terrorist elements threatens the stability of the entire Horn of Africa region," Frazer told a Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee.

"We will therefore take strong measures to deny terrorists safe haven in Somalia, as well as the ability to plan and operate from Somalia," she said.

The United States will continue to work with East African countries to build their capacity to counter terrorism and criminality that originates in Somalia, she said.

The senior U.S. official made the remarks when the Bush administration is planning to establish a new regional command for Africa to oversee U.S. military activities on the continent.

Last month, the United States joined efforts by Somalia's government and Ethiopia to oust Islamic extremists who had held sway over most of southern Somalia, including the capital Mogadishu.

Frazer has said before that the U.S. administration would use its diplomatic and financial resources to support Somalia's government and prevent a slide back into chaos.

Source: Xinhua