Ethiopia renews accusation to Eritrea, opposition of Addis Ababa blasts

Mar 28, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopia’s Prime Minister in a speech to the parliament renewed accusations to Eritrea to be behind the yesterday explosions in Addis Ababa, saying it mobilizes Oromo rebels and opposition CUD.

One person died and 15 others were injured when five separate bombings shook the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Monday, with a minibus and a restaurant among the targets.

“The forces that oppose federalism from two extremes, namely those who promote secession as an objective and oppose unity which is based on federalism on the one hand, and those forces that oppose the protection of the rights of nationalities on the other hand, are working hand in hand with the sha’biyyah (Eritrean government) and these shows that they have an unholy objectives and alliance” said Meles Zenawi.

Eritrean and Ethiopia fought a war from 1998 to 2000 that cost at least 80 000 lives and tensions remain acute.

Ethiopia had accused Eritrea and Ethiopian opposition of three explosions outside of a hotel restaurant and in a shopping district of Ethiopia’s capital at midday on Tuesday 7 March, wounded four people and blew out windows.

The Oromo Liberation Front denied “the renewed drama and baseless accusation” and rejected “terrorism as a means of struggle” said a press statement issued by the rebel OLF on 21 March.

Zenawi said that opposition commits such actions to disturb peace after the failure of the civil unrest last November.

“Although peace and stability has prevailed in the country after the collapse of the attempted orange revolution, which was instigated by the violent leaders of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), various anti-peace and violence forces have never stopped from making relentless efforts to disturb our peace” said Meles Zenawi.

”They have also been seen trying to instigate conflict and encouraging bloodshed between the law enforcement forces and some citizens, who became instruments of these anti-peace elements, and tarnish the image of the country by creating discord between the people and the government””.
The sha’biyyah wishes to see a divided or at least a much weakened Ethiopia, and to achieve its objectives is mobilizing the remnants of the Dergue regime, the OLF [Oromo Liberation Front] and its like.

The government accuses the Ethiopian opposition of inciting violence in a bid to overthrow the government in the wake of losing the May 15 elections.

But the opposition claims the polls were rigged by Meles’ ruling party and staged protests against the alleged fraud in June and November that erupted in violence, leaving at least 84 people dead, many at the hands of police.

(ST)