Ethiopia arms Somali leader to sabotage new government: rebel radio

MOGADISHU, Somalia, Oct 23, 2004 (Radio Freedom) Reliable reports obtained from important sources close to the Ethiopian military say that the government has donated another consignment of arms and ammunition to Abdinur Ahmad Darman [Mogadishu-based faction leader], who recently visited Gode town [southern Ethiopia] where he met with Ethiopian officials.

Sources confirmed to us that the consignment consisted of guns, ammunition, and mines. Transported by many vehicles, the arms were given to Darman to sabotage the new Somali government set up in Nairobi.

The arms consignment has since been confirmed to have arrived in Mogadishu. Residents in Mogadishu told us that talk about the Ethiopian arms was widespread.

When the new Somali president was elected, Ethiopia stated that it would maintain ties with faction leaders, implying that it would not desist from dividing and setting the Somali people against each other.

Material from the BBC Monitoring Service.