Rebel group says Ethiopia deploying troops in gas-rich Ogaden

May 14, 2006 (NAIROBI) — An Ethiopian rebel group on Sunday claimed the federal government is deploying troops in the country’s southeastern Ogaden region ahead of a planned seismic survey by Chinese and Malaysian oil firms next month.

A spokesman for the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) said “thousands of Ethiopian government troops have been pouring into Ogaden in recent weeks” despite warnings from the rebel organization that such actions could provoke armed conflict.

The ONLF, a rebel group fighting for the independence of ethnic Somalis living in the Ethiopia’s Ogaden region, is ready to launch peace talks with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s government “in a neutral country provided that an internationally recognized entity mediated the talks,” it said in a statement.

In April, the rebels warned off international oil firms — including Gail India Limited, the Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Limited of India — from exploring oil and natural gas in the region.

Ethiopian government officials have dismissed such warnings as hollow threats.

The alleged troop deployment coincides with a seismic survey in Ogaden next month by Chinese oil firm Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration Bureau (ZPEB) and Malaysian oil giant Petronas.

Petronas has three exploration blocks in the volatile Ogaden basin.

Ogaden, a dry belt that neighbours lawless Somalia, is believed to be lying on large quantities of gas, but further exploration is needed to verify the exact amount and develop the fields.

(ST)