Somalia’s embattled interim government on Thursday received a pledge of unflinching support from Hillary Clinton, US secretary of state, who promised it more military aid as it confronts an onslaught from Islamist insurgents.

Speaking after a meeting with Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, the Somali president, Mrs Clinton said she had conveyed to him “the very strong support that both President [Barack] Obama and I have both for the peace process and for his government”.