US troops to join al-Qaida hunt

The Pentagon is sending 1,000 more us troops to help track down al-Qaida around the Horn of Africa, where the year long war on terrorism has produced few visible results.

Defence officials said the amphibious command ship Mount Whitney – to be used as a floating headquarters off the coast of Djibouti – will set sail on Tuesday with Marines who will co-ordinate future military operations in the region.