Somali minister accuses Ethiopia of dividing country

MOGADISHU, Feb 7, 2005 (Holy Koran Radio) — The minister of national security in the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, Mohamed Qanyare Afrah, has said that the people of Somalia love to have a central government but at the same time strongly oppose what he termed as Amharas (Ethiopians).

Qanyare, who was addressing a huge crowed in Mogadishu stressed that the Ethiopian government had divided the Somali people and created a long standing animosity between them.

He said “our people would like to have a central government and it seems they hate anything to do with Amharas. They want a government but oppose the Amharas and no one else”.

Qanyare further said the Transitional National Government of Somalia would soon relocate to work inside the country. He urged the Somali people to give confidence and support to the new government.

Material provided by the BBC Monitoring Service.