Ethiopia’s Zenawi denies sending troops into Somalia

June 17, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopia on Saturday denied sending troops into Somalia, which Islamists who recently seized control of a large swathe of the country had accused them of doing earlier.

“Ethiopia has not crossed the border. So far, the fundamentalists have occupied Baladwayne and are marching towards the Ethiopian border. Ethiopia hopes that they will not cross the border,” Bereket Simon, a minister without portfolio and close ally of Ethiopian Prime Minster Meles Zenawi said.

The leader of Somalia’s Islamic Courts Union, which captured the Somali capital 11 days ago, said 300 Ethiopian troops crossed into the country Saturday.

He also accused the United States of supporting Ethiopian intervention in Somalia.

The Ethiopian troops entered through the border town of Dolow in the southwestern region of Gedo at 8 a.m. (0500GMT), Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, chairman of the Islamic Courts Union, told journalists.

(ST/Reuters)