WASHINGTON ? The United States has ruled out an attack on Somalia to oust Al Qaida forces which have seized effective control of the country.

Officials said the Bush administration has no plans to send U.S. troops to oust the new Al Qaida-aligned regime in Somalia. The regime, known as the Council of Islamic Courts, has defeated the U.S.-backed militia and taken over much of the country.

“The Council of Islamic Courts is now controlled by Al Qaida cell individuals, East Africa Al Qaida cell individuals,” U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Jendayi Frazer said. “The top layer of the court are extremists. They are terrorists.”
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In June 2006, Al Qaida conquered the Somali capital Mogadishu. Since then, thousands of Al Qaida fighters, many of them who had served in Afghanistan, were advancing to take over the rest of Somalia.

“They are killing nuns,” Ms. Frazer said. “They have killed children and they are calling for a jihad. Frankly, public executions, killing people for watching soccer matches, is not consistent with the Somali culture and traditions.”
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“The problem is that the CIC is led by extreme radicals right now, not the moderates that we all hoped would emerge,” Ms. Frazer said. “The analysis is that there are many more in the courts that are moderate and are just going along. And we would hope that, eventually, the conditions will be such that they can break off and join with governing Somalia in the traditions of Somalia.”