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Ethiopia Denounces Eritrea for Being Involved in Somalia's War

Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu)
NEWS
December 22, 2006
Posted to the web December 22, 2006

By Aweys Osman Yusuf
Mogadishu
Two rival archenemies, Ethiopia and Eritrea, who have unfinished border
disputes and fought border battles from 1998 to 2000, are engaged in rhetoric
and accusations over the ongoing fighting in Somalia between the Islamic Courts
Union and Ethiopian-backed government forces.
Ethiopia laid blame on Eritrea for destabilizing the peace in Somalia and being
involved in the war in Somalia.
Mohamood Dirir, Ethiopian tourism minister, accused Eritrea of supporting the
Islamic Courts Union in Somalia. He denied that Ethiopian troops in Badioa were
involved in the skirmishes near the government garrison town of Baidoa.
He said the Islamists intend to fail the internationally recognized government.
"The Islamists are planning to oust the current transitional government and set
up an Islamic republic, using their military powers", he said.
Earlier Eritrea accused Ethiopia of being involved in Somalia militarily and
being part of Somalia's internal problems.
Islamic Courts Union said they were at war with Ethiopian troops in the country
not the government, alleging they killed 203 Ethiopian soldiers and wounded
more than that number.
More than 100 are believed to be dead since the fighting started on late
Tuesday afternoon.
Witnesses in Baidoa say they had seen number of Ethiopian forces fighting
alongside with the government troops in Idaale, 70 km (45 miles) southwest of
Baidoa.
Somalia's transitional government was formed in 2004 after two years
negotiations in Kenya.


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