Somalia president admits rapes by security forces

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — After months of denial, Somalia's government has for the first time acknowledged that its security forces were involved in rape cases that drew an international outcry by human rights groups.

Army commanders often denied accusations that soldiers were involved in a spate of rapes, blaming the crimes on the Islamic extremist rebels of al-Shabab who wore army uniforms to smear the reputation of the military.

"Those few among the security forces who rape and rob our citizens must be fought and be defeated just like Shabaab," said President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, while speaking to military cadets at a training camp in Mogadishu on Monday.

"Criminals who commit rape ought to be opposed just like (the Islamic extremist rebels of) Shabaab," said the president, in a statement issued by his office.

He also affirmed that his government would "fight those who rape as he'd fight al-Shabab," the Al-Qaeda-linked rebel group fighting his government and the African Union forces in Somalia.

In March, the New York based Human Rights Watch accused Somalia's security forces and armed groups of raping and beating displaced Somalis who came to the capital fleeing famine and armed conflict. But Somalia has begun military tribunals in which soldiers have been punished and the number of rapes have declined since then, say residents.

"The president's commitment to tackle abuses, including rape, by security forces, is an important first step but needs to be followed by concrete action, including proper vetting of police and military," said Leslie Lefkow, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "And the government needs to appropriately investigate, suspend and prosecute members of its forces who commit crimes, in line with international standards."

Somalia's highest profile rape case was one in which an alleged victim accused government soldiers but was herself put on trial and sentenced to one year in prison for insulting the state institution. A reporter who interviewed her was also arrested and jailed one year for offending national institutions. Human rights groups denounced the convictions.

An appeals court acquitted and released the woman and the Supreme Court later overturned the verdict against the reporter.

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Cricket-Australia lack batting depth admits chief selector

By Nick Mulvenney

SYDNEY, April 3 (Reuters) - Australia's chief selector John Inverarity admitted they were struggling for batting depth ahead of this year's Ashes as he announced the list of centrally contracted players for the 2013-14 season on Wednesday.

The 20 named gave a strong indication of the players Australia will be relying on to try and win the Ashes back from England in the first of back-to-back series this year and there were no surprises.

Of the 17 who were on the list last year, only 35-year-old short form specialist David Hussey failed to retain his contract, while Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey have retired.

Top order batsmen Ed Cowan and Phil Hughes, Twenty20 captain George Bailey, all-rounders Glenn Maxwell and James Faulkner as well as quick bowler Clint McKay were the six players brought into the fold.

Inverarity said the discussions on the squad for the first Ashes series, which begins at Trent Bridge on July 10, were at an "advanced" stage but there would be few changes to the party that were humbled 4-0 in India.

"We thought we took our best squad to India, the Ashes squad is likely to be similar to that. There'll be a couple of changes," he told reporters in Perth.

"This list has a broader view because it takes in T20s and one-dayers as well."

Iverarity said the Ashes party would be 16 or 17 strong, have five or six pace bowlers with possibly one all-rounder as well as two spinners.

"I think our pace bowling is likely to be good, I think the wickets in England are likely to suit us more than they did in India," he said.

"But the stability in the batting, we need to get more stability and certainty in our top six.

"We do not have the batting depth in Australia that we had 15 to 20 years ago, we just don't. That is something cricket in Australia has to address," he added.

Batsmen Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith, along with pace bowler Jackson Bird and all-rounder Moises Henriques, had been "very close" to making the list, he said, adding batsmen Alex Doolan and Adam Voges were still in the frame for the Ashes.

David Hussey's omission was an indication that Australia was looking to the future, Inverarity said.

"We are very much in a transition stage in Australian cricket, we've lost some wonderful players. We're in transition and we're looking to offer experience to those young players we think will come through best."

Inverarity said he was "very excited" about the Ashes series and was certain Australia would give a better account of themselves than they had in India.

"The team's performances in India was poor, there were some performances that were unacceptable," he said.

"The conditions there were very, very demanding and I thought a number of the young players learned and improved and they'll be better for that experience."

Contracted players: George Bailey, Michael Clarke, Ed Cowan, Patrick Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phil Hughes, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Shane Watson. (Editing by Patrick Johnston)

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