Eritrea tried to destabilize Ethiopia but failed – US

Feb 27, 2007 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ambassador Vicki Huddleston, who recently served for 15 months as US acting ambassador to Ethiopia, said that Eritrea hoped to use the conflict in Somalia to destabilize Ethiopia, but failed.

Huddleston told the Council on Foreign Relations on 22 February in Washington that Eritrea is a country not contributing to stability in Somalia, the Ethiopian radio reported.

She said Somalia struggled to form a government after 15 years of clan warfare is achieving success thanks to partners in the Horn of Africa region, like Ethiopia, and with help from the UN, the AU and the US.

The diplomat said the US would support the deployment of peacekeepers in Somalia by providing 15m US dollars for air lift and other logistics.

(ST)