Corrected-Ethiopia allocates funds to counter Al-Ittihad activities in east

ADDIS ABABA, Jan 20, 2005 (Tobya) — The Somali National Regional Administrative Council, in conjunction with the Ministry of Federal Affairs, has allocated millions of birr to recruit and organize people that would counter the activities of Al-Ittihad and the ONLF (Ogaden National Liberation Front) which have vowed to disrupt the forthcoming elections in the area slotted for August, Tobya associate reporter from the area has said.

The reporter has also said that the two organizations, which are labelled as anti-peace forces in the area are operating in the three zones of Fik, Warder and Kelafo.

Any person or group of persons who give the police a tip off on the activities of these organizations will be financially rewarded and that budgetary allocations have been made for the security councils of every zone for this purpose.

Material provided by the BBC Monitoring Service, original in Amharic.