Eritrea denies supporting groups to create sabotage ahead of Ethiopian polls
May 4, 2010 (ADDIS ABABA) -– Eritrea has dismissed Ethiopia’s growing accusations that Asmara is arming and sending “terrorists” in to its soil to disrupt this month’s general elections.
Ethiopia Last week said that its security forces had arrested ten Eritrean-sent “terrorists” belonging to Al Shebab islamist radical group and Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) with a mission to carry out terrorist acts during the elections process.
Eritrea’s information minister, Ali Abdu however dismissed the accusations saying it is the ruling party’s diversionary tactic aimed at controlling Ethiopian voters ahead of the poll.
Ethiopia is simply “creating drama after the United Nations’ targeted sanctions failed to cripple Eritrea,” he told VOA.
“This latest accusation has two objectives: number-one is I can call it ton of mourning meaning, after the failure of the so-called sanctions, the ton of frustration is coming out from the Ethiopian regime. This is why that government is uttering a ton of mourning. The second point is to divert the attention of the Ethiopian people in this election time,” he said.
Minister Abdu said Ethiopia’s government often creates internal tensions and blames neighboring countries for it – a charge Ethiopia denies.
Minister Ali Abdu denied supporting opposition groups to destabilize neighboring Ethiopia.
“This is not our political culture and this is not our political psychology. We, to the contrary, have fought and will fight for stabilization and (an) inclusive Ethiopia,” he stressed.
That is why we supported the incumbent regime hoping that they will work for the betterment of Ethiopia for united and inclusive Ethiopia. But, unfortunately, that group turned to be a family regime,” Abdu said.
Ethiopia’s parliamentary elections are due in Ethiopia on May 23.some 32 million people will cast their votes.
Following a recent bomb attack, Ethiopian officials are saying that they will conduct democratic, fair and peaceful elections despite unfolding attempts from arch-foe Eritrea to disrupt the forth coming elections.
On April 24, a bomb blast at Ethiopia’s northern region of Tigray killed 5 people and wounded 20 others.
Tigray regional president Tsegay berhe in a statement then hold responsible the Eritrean government for the attacks saying “the attacks are part of Eritrea’s evil plans to disrupt upcoming national election.”
“Such desperate attacks by Eritrean sent infiltrators by no means will setback Ethiopia from conducting democratic, credible and peaceful election,” Tsegay said.
Ethiopia and Eritrea have long traded blows in a bitter brawl over their respected territories, which in 1998 and 2000 gave rise to a festering border row that killed 80,000 people.
(ST)