MOGADISHU, Somalia, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- U.S. naval forces are patrolling the coast of Somalia to intercept any fleeing Islamist militias while U.S. officials mull a presence in the country.
Sean McCormack, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department, confirmed navy ships had been deployed, the BBC reported.
"We would be concerned that no leaders who were members of the Islamic Courts which have ties to terrorist organizations including al-Qaida are allowed to flee and leave Somalia," he said.
Meanwhile, Jendayi Frazer, assistant U.S. secretary of state, is seeking to re-establish a U.S. presence in Somalia, the Financial Times reported.
Frazer, who may visit Mogadishu as part of a regional tour that began Wednesday, is reportedly looking to bring U.S. humanitarian aid and multinational African forces to the country to assist the transitional government. The possible visit would make Frazer the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Somalia since before the U.S. withdrew from the country in 1994.
