Somali government hails rescue of U.S. hostage

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Somalia's fledgling government applauded on Sunday the release of an American hostage whose five-day capture by pirates in the Indian Ocean highlighted lawlessness both in and off the Horn of Africa nation.

"We are very happy at this action and the outcome," Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Omaar told Reuters by telephone from Djibouti. "It shows that the world will not accept criminality."

Asked what he knew about the operation to free ship captain Richard Phillips, Omaar said details needed to be kept confidential. "I am not surprised, nor will anyone be surprised, at the actions of the American government to save its citizen and ensure the security of its people."

The minister repeated a call for international support to strengthen the Somali government's security forces so they can tackle pirates themselves.

"The Somali government needs to shield the Somali people from these criminal gangs, who are not only destroying the reputation of the Somali people ... but are a danger to Africa," he said. "We ask the world community to assist our government so that we can take actions, protect our citizens and the world."

Omaar is part of a government formed earlier this year in the 15th attempt to restore central rule to Somalia since it slid into anarchy in 1991. The government faces a militant Islamist insurgency and has little territorial control outside the capital Mogadishu.

(Reporting by Abdiaziz Hassan, Writing by Andrew Cawthorne)