Somali premier denies Ethiopian interference

MOGADISHU, Dec 24, 2004 (Radio HornAfrik) — Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi has vehemently denied that Ethiopia is interfering in Somali affairs. Some politicians charged the president and his prime minister as hostages to the Ethiopian government.

Gedi indicated “It is unfortunate that people who call themselves politicians claim that Somalia is in the hands of Ethiopia and that it is against the sovereignty of the Somali nation. It is about two years since we started talks in Kenya, and the international community financed the talks.”

He further added “We remember that we Somalis formed a parliament which elected a president and later on the president appointed a prime minister. It is therefore, a shame to hear people saying that Somalia is in the hands of other nations while Somalis themselves have decided all these processes for our government”.

Ethiopia is one of our neighbours which is involved in the Somali peace process like Kenya and Djibouti.

The prime minister has also denied that there are Ethiopian forces at the border between Somalia and Ethiopia.

Material from the BBC Monitoring Service, original text in Somali.