Government troops on the Comoro Islands ignored appeals from Africa and France yesterday and landed in the island of Anjouan to try and end a month-long secession by force. Two boatloads of troops landed early in the morning, according to the French foreign ministry in Paris and diplomats in Moroni, capital of the Indian Ocean archipelago.
President Mohamed Taki's government later confirmed the operation but said it began late on Tuesday night.
"The security forces are progressively re-establishing the republican order, the freedoms and the safety of persons in Anjouan, mainly in Mutsamudu and Domoni," a statement said.
Diplomats said the targets were Anjouan's main town and port of Mutsamudu, the airport at Ouani, 7 km east of Mutsamudu, and the town of Domoni.
Anjouan, the second largest of the three-island group off the East African coast, seceded on August 3rd after months of protest, civil unrest and clashes with security forces that led to several deaths.
The smallest of the islands, Moheli, followed leaving Mr Taki's government in control of only Grande Comore.
"This morning, a military operation launched by the government and aimed at taking control of strategic points on Anjouan is under way," a French Foreign Ministry spokesman, Mr Yves Doutriaux, said.
With telephone, air and sea links to Anjouan apparently severed yesterday there was scant information about the invasion.
Anjouan residents had earlier pledged to defend their tiny island. Unconfirmed reports from in Moroni, said the troop ships were anchored at Ouani. They said they were either repulsed at Mutsamudu or chose to avoid the heavily defended main town.
France repeated earlier calls for negotiations aimed at a peaceful settlement. Paris has opposed the secessions.
The invasion was likely to be condemned by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), whose special envoy, Mr Pierre Yere, warned on Tuesday night that an invasion looked imminent.
Political leaders on the two secessionist islands have disagreed on whether they want full independence, a return to French rule or far greater autonomy.
But they all agree that the federation, formed after independence from France in 1965, has brought only poverty, political instability and a succession of coups to most of the country's 670,000 people.
Mr Taki's government told the OAU special envoy on Tuesday that army operations at sea near Anjouan involving 300 soldiers aboard the two ships were only manoeuvres.
Col Hassane Harouna, commander of Mr Taki's guard, was in charge of soldiers deployed since Monday. Witnesses arriving by boat from Anjouan this week said residents of Mutsamudu were ready to fight. A European who arrived from Anjouan said: "The islanders appear determined to face the Comoran army at whatever cost. I fear this invasion may turn into a blood-bath." Mr Taki's government has asked the OAU to postpone until October its all-party conference on the Comoran crisis, Mr Yere said. The talks at OAU headquarters in Ethiopia are scheduled for September 10th-17th. - (Reuter)