U.N. envoy for Somalia seeks more resources to combat al Shabaab

GENEVA (Reuters) - African troops in Somalia require helicopters and armoured vehicles to counter al Shabaab, the Islamist group that has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack on a Kenyan shopping mall, the U.N. envoy for Somalia said on Tuesday.

Nicholas Kay, U.N. special representative for Somalia, said more troops may also be necessary and called specifically for targeting three ports along the Somali coast that he said were operated by al Shabaab for illicit trade.