"We have decided to renew AMISOM's mandate for seven months starting June 17, 2009," said Sharif Mahamat Zene, ambassador of Chad, which is the current chair of the rotating presidency of the African Union Peace and Security Council.  He said the Council had also asked the AU commission to review AMISOM's rules of engagement "to better protect its equipment, facilities, personnel and provide more effective backing to the Somali transitional government [TFG]." Deployed in March 2007, AMISOM counts more than 4,300 Ugandan and Burundian soldiers and is currently charged with protecting strategic sites in the seaside capital such as the presidency, the port and the airport.  But it isn't allowed to fight alongside government forces and is authorized to retaliate only in case of a direct attack. On May 26, the U.N. Security Council authorized the extension of the African Union operation until Jan. 31, pledging $72 million in immediate logistical backing. Only half of the originally planned strength of 8,000 peacekeepers is deployed in the capital. Zene said that Malawi and Sierra Leone have promised to send a battalion each to reinforce AMISOM. (from AFP)