Ethiopia 'prepared for potential attack' from Islamic group
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi today said his country has completed its preparations for a potential attack by Islamic militants from neighbouring Somalia, who have declared a holy war on his country.
Ethiopia, a largely Christian nation, backs Somalia’s two-year-old acting government, which has failed to exert any real influence.
Somalia’s increasingly powerful Council of Islamic Courts has denounced interference by Ethiopia.
Meles, in a speech to parliament in Addis Ababa, said his first priority was to avoid conflict with the Islamists, but “we can’t simply close our eyes or look the other way.”
The government “has completed this preparation,” he added.
Meles did not specify what preparations his country has made.
He acknowledges sending “military advisers” to Somalia, although he has denied widespread witness reports that Ethiopian troops are in the country.
Somalia has not had an effective government since 1991, when warlords overthrew a dictator and then turned on each other.
The current administration was formed with the help of the UN two years ago.
The Islamic Courts, meanwhile, have steadily gained ground since taking over Mogadishu in June and now control much of southern Somalia.
