Ethiopia says ready to defend Somalia against Islamic militia

July 19, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopia is prepared to invade neighboring Somalia to defend Somalia’s internationally recognized government against what appeared to be an imminent attack by an Islamic militia, a government spokesman said Wednesday.

“We have the responsibility to defend the border and the Somali government. We will crush them,” Ethiopia’s Minister of Information Berhan Hailu told The Associated Press.

The comments came as the Islamic militia that has seized control of most of southern Somalia deployed hundreds of fighters outside the base of the U.N.-backed interim government and said they planned to seize it.

The militia’s movement toward the Somali town of Baidoa immediately raised concerns about possible intervention by Ethiopia, Somalia’s traditional enemy. Somali transitional President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed is allied with Ethiopia and has asked for its support, and Ethiopia has intervened militarily in Somalia in the past.

Hundreds of Ethiopian troops have been spotted along the countries’ border in recent weeks.

Berhan said Ethiopia supports Somalia’s interim government because the panel is backed by the United Nations and the African Union.

“We believe they have the right to lead the country in the right direction. But if the Islamic Courts Union militias move closer to Baidoa, then that is showing the intention of wanting to take over the recognized government,” he said.

Somalia invaded Ethiopia in 1978 in an attempt to grab land occupied by ethnic Somalis. Since then, Ethiopia has attempted to influence Somali politics to prevent another invasion.

Ethiopia sent troops into Somalia in 1993 and 1996 to crush Islamic militants attempting to establish a religious government. The current leader of the Islamic courts was also a top Islamic leader in the 1990s.

(ST/AP)