Kazakhstan denies delivering arms to Somalian Islamists

Aug 7, 2006 (ALMATY, Kazakhstan) — The Kazakh Foreign Ministry denied Monday that the ex-Soviet republic delivered weapons to Somalian Islamists, following reports that a plane bearing the Kazakh flag that landed in the capital was loaded with arms.

The Foreign Ministry said Kazakhstan had nothing to do with it “and never delivered any weapons to that country,” ministry spokesman Ilyas Omarov said.

He said that Kazakhstan was “strictly” following the U.N.-imposed embargo on arms supplies to Somalia.

But witnesses said an Ilyushin-76 cargo plane, with the Kazakh flag painted on its tail, landed in the capital, Mogadishu, on July 26 and 28.

The embattled Somali government said the flights were delivering weapons -including land mines and long-range guns – from neighboring Eritrea for a militia loyal to the Supreme Islamic Courts Council, a grouping of anti-government militias that have overrun much of Somalia’s south.

Both the rebels and Eritrean officials have denied the accusation.

Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee said last week that it was investigating the reports.

The Kazakh Civil Aviation Committee said in response to an Associated Press query that officially no Kazakh Il-76 is being leased by any African state or company. It also said that no Kazakh Il-76 has been ever been sold to a client in Africa.

It also said that there are 16 Il-76s operated by five Kazakh companies that carry the country’s national insignia, and all those companies were being investigated.

The U.S. State Department last month warned against outside interference that could extend violence in Somalia.

Kazakhstan used to be a manufacturing hub for the Soviet defense industry.

Since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, Kazakh officials have been involved in a string of illegal arms scandals that included sales of MiG fighters to South Korea, and other military equipment and weapons to North Korea, Ethiopia, Congo and other countries.

Kazakh airlines often make their planes available for charter.

(Ap/ST)