The head of U.S. troops in the Horn of Africa says terrorists and insurgents may begin leaving war zones in Afghanistan and Iraq and head for east Africa.
Major General Timothy Ghormley says officials are concerned that instability and weak governments in east Africa could draw international terrorist groups seeking to establish a base of operations.
General Ghormley says the joint task force in Djibouti has been helping to train foreign soldiers and build anti-terrorist capabilities of governments in the region. However, U.S. forces have yet to enter Somalia, which has been without a functioning central government for more than 10 years.
Earlier this year, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi warned an al-Qaida cell is already operating out of Somalia's capital, Mogadishu.
