|
Aweys Osman Yusuf
Mogadishu 23, Nov.06 ( Sh.M.Network) - Speaking to parliament in Addis Ababa Prime minister of Ethiopia Meles Zenawi revealed his government has come to a firm decision of gearing up for a war with Somalia's Union of Islamic Courts, which is in control of most central and southern of the country.
 |
| Males Zenawi |
Ethiopia is believed to have thousands of its military troops in the small town of Baidoa, a temporary seat for the toothless transitional federal government.
Ethiopia merely admits its has hundreds of military officers in Somalia to train the government personnel and protect the government form the Islamic Courts fighters surrounding Baidoa.
Zenawi said jihad war against Ethiopia was an apparent threat to Ethiopia that could not be ignored, adding that the policy of his government to solve any conflict through peaceful means has so far ended in unproductiveness, and therefore has become indispensable to be fully geared up for the defense of Ethiopia against the enemy [Islamists].
The news comes as United States government formally supported an African troop deployment to Somalia to protect the weak government based in the small town of Baidoa, 245 km southwest of the capital.
Ethiopian military convoy passing through Kansah Omane environs on the edge of Baidoa was ambushed twice last week by pro-Islamist militias in the area.
Two armored vehicles were blown up as number of Ethiopian soldiers was reportedly killed in skirmishes that took place during the ambush.
Somalia lost its central government in 1991 when tribal warlords toppled former president Mohammed Siad Barre.
Peace talks in the Sudanese capital Khartoum have ended in failure early this month after Islamic Courts demanded that all Ethiopian forces in the country leave.
|