- Title: KENYA: Kenya marks 10th anniversary of 1998 US Embassy bombings
- Date: 7th August 2008
- Summary: MEMORIAL MONUMENT WITH KENYAN AND AMERICAN FLAGS AT THE AMERICAN EMBASSY CROWD LOOKING ON FORMER AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO KENYA JOHNIE CARSON LOOKING AT WREATH
- Embargoed: 22nd August 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Kenya
- Country: Kenya
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA8HFQRZGKEOQ07DF3V2B4ZLNG8
- Story Text: Sombre ceremonies as Kenya's capital marks 10th year commemoration of 1998 US Embassy attack Hundreds of survivors, relatives and friends on Thursday, August 07 gathered at the site of former US embassy, now a memorial park, to mark the 10th anniversary of the 1998 terror blast that killed more that 220 people and put the militant group, al-Qaeda firmly on the world stage.
"But the stark revelations of the last few days have reminded us yet again that we have terrorists in our midst still planning awful deeds. We must therefore never relax our vigilance against these extremists. Let me assure Kenyans that this government will do everything possible to prevent us from ever again being attacked.
We will continue to co-operate with other global anti-terror efforts underway to pursue and apprehend violent extremists on our soil. But let no one claim that that our posture on terrorism in a result of any outside pressure. We have suffered three major terrorist attacks in our short history.
We will not allow a fourth one to occur," Said Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The commemoration comes days after Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, who allegedly planned the bombings, evaded capture by minutes as Kenyan police raided a house in the coastal town of Malindi.
After the embassy attacks the US government placed a USD 5 million bounty on the Comoran born Fazul and labelled him al-Qaeda head operative in Africa.
Kenya on Monday, August 4 charged three people in a Mombasa court with helping the al-Qaeda operative escape police over the weekend.
The prime minister set out to address the concerns of the Kenyan muslim community who feel that they have been unfairly targeted in the war against terror in the east African country.
"But in our vigilance and our pursuit of terrorists, let me also assure Kenyans that we will never scapegoat any particular community. We take solace from the fact that none of the three attacks was committed by a Kenyan," said Odinga.
Known for his outspoken nature, Prime Minister Odinga urged the international community to tackle the root causes of extremism.
"Unless we provide just solutions to political crises such as those in the Middle East, new extremists will continue to be created. We need for example to hasten the creation of an independent state for the Palestinian people and provide Israel secure borders. The world, and the UN Security Council in particular, must also produce a durable solution to the terrible violence and suffering that has devastated the people of Somalia. We must do not only because it is our humanitarian duty. A lawless Somalia threatens Kenya's security," He added.
American Ambassador to Kenya, Michael Ranneberger paid his respects at the memorial park early on Thursday morning later hosted survivors and relatives at the US embassy.
He said United States will continue with its commitment to prosecute the perpetrators of the attack.
"The United States will not rest and I have every reason to believe that Kenya will not rest until all of those associated with these bombings have been brought to justice," said Ranneberger.
A simultaneous attack on the US embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania also killed several people and left scores injured.
After a decade some of the survivors of the co-ordinated attacks are still bitter after not receiving compensation from neither the American nor the Kenyan governments. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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