Somali envoy to Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of supporting militia

July 23, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — Somali interim government envoy to Ethiopia accused Eritrea of supporting the Islamist militia, he said Asmara is financing, training and providing personnel to the militia, by violating international charters.

Briefing local journalists here in Addis Ababa at the embassy of the Somali Transitional Federal Government on the current situation in the country, Ambassador Abdikarim Farah said since his government is respecting the arms embargo on Somalia, it could not defend itself while others are using latest ammunitions and helped by extremist powers.

“For the last a couple of months, Eritrea’s role in other direction, there were arms shipments to extremists in Somalia, which actually is the major problem of Mogadishu. It has also been sending arms into central Somalia, especially Galguduud”, the Somali envoy told reporters.

The ambassador said they would like these actions to be stopped since the actions would not hurt Eritrea rather than harming the interest of Somalia people. Farah said neighbouring countries, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the African Union and the international community as a whole have the obligation for the realization of peace and security in Somalia.

Concerning the policy of Ethiopia towards Somalia, the ambassador said Ethiopia would like to see Somalia whose territorial integrity is respected.

Ethiopian troops moved into a second Somali town on Saturday to protect the country’s weak, U.N.-backed government, as talks aimed at easing tensions fell apart when the government did not turn up and Islamist militia delegates walked out.

(ST)