Addis Ababa — The African Union has approved a plan to send nine battalions of African peacekeeping troops to Somalia to help stabilize the country, BBC reported.

A senior AU official said that the troops would be deployed for six months, and eventually be taken over by the UN.

The report quoted the official as having said that the three battalions are due to be sent initially, with six more battalions to follow over a six month period.

They are to take-over from Ethiopian forces, which were sent to Somalia last month to drive out extremist militias, the official added.

The AU's plan to send peacekeepers was announced in the Ethiopian capital Addis where the Union is based, the report said.

AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Said Djinnit said that the mission's role would be to "provide support to the transitional federal institutions in their efforts towards the stabilization of the situation in the country and the furtherance of dialogue."

So far, only Uganda has pledged to contribute to the AU force. Other countries such as Tanzania, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa are considering possible contributions.

Meanwhile, EU Business .com reported from Brussels that the European Union (EU) is prepared to release 15 million euros for the AU peacekeeping force as soon as the necessary requirements are met.

The Washington Times also reported that Several Americans have been captured fighting on behalf of the ousted Islamic Courts Union (UIC) in Somalia.

Among the various international media products ENA monitored, a report by EU Business .com said that a draft text drawn up for EU foreign ministers stated that European Union is likely to offer financial support for a future stabilization force in conflict-torn Somalia.

"The EU stands ready to offer financial support for such a stabilization mechanism within the framework of a concerted and global international effort stressing the importance of an all inclusive dialogue and genuine reconciliation," the report added.

The report said that the EU is joining Ethiopia, the United States, the United Nations and others, to support deployment of an African peacekeeping force to stabilize Somalia and assist the transitional government in consolidating its limited power.

Meanwhile, the London-based Arabic Al-Sheriq Al-Awist newspaper said that Somali warlords have started handing over their weapons to the TFG.

The report quoted TFG spokesperson Abdurrahman Dinare as having said that the warlords in Mogadishu have handed over 70 heavy artilleries 120 shoulder missiles tanks and other artilleries to the TFG.

The Washington Times also reported that several Americans-or at least people holding us passports -were captured among the 6,000 extremist fighting on behalf of the ousted UIC during the ongoing conflict in Somalia.

The newspaper said that the US passport holders are being held and interrogated in Kenya.

The paper quoted anonymous sources as having said that one of the American fundamentalists had received pilot training in the past.

This is an indication that he may be a terrorist who could be used in future Al Qaeda operation to hijack an aircraft and use it as a missile, as occurred during the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, the report added.

The recent fighting by Ethiopian and Somali Transitional Federal Government forces against the partially ruling UIC forced thousands of terrorists of the UIC to move south to Kismayo and Ras Kamboni, on the Kenyan border.

Army Lt General Michael Maples, director of the Defence Intelligence Agency, told U.S .Senate intelligence committee in a written testimony last week that "multiple reports" from the region indicate the presence of foreign trainers in Somalia from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Arabian Peninsula, the report said.

"Al Qaeda is assessed to be assisting the radical fundamentalist elements of the UIC with leadership and training with hopes of establishing a future Taliban like state," the report quoted him as having said.