Militia: Ethiopia declaring war
2006-10-30 15:34
Khartoum - Somalia's powerful Islamist movement on Monday accused neighbouring Ethiopia of "declaring war" on them, as they awaited the delayed resumption of peace talks here with the country's weak government.
While they and mediators prepared for the late arrival of a government delegation, the Islamists renewed accusations that Ethiopia had sent troops to support the transitional administration and rejected again Kenyan mediation.
They said: "Ethiopia has declared war on Somalia and has already made a large military incursion deep into Somali territory.
"That not only undermines the reconciliation process, but also seriously threatens peace and security of Somalia and the whole region in general."
Islamists seize Mogadishu
It said: "Any new conflict will not only retard, but destroy the peace dividends and above all civic gains do far achieved", referring to developments since the Islamists seized Mogadishu in June and then rapidly expanded territory.
"We are (also) seriously opposed to the co-chairmanship of Kenya in this peace process and we would like to be assured of acceptance of our points of view before the commencement of business."
The letter was addressed to the Sudanese hosts of the talks, the Arab League, the United Nations and the United States-created International Contact Group on Somalia, all of which feared all-out war that might erupt into regional conflict.
It was released after the planned 11:00 start of the third round of negotiations, to be chaired by the Arab League and Kenya, was delayed by the late arrival of the government delegation amid reports of infighting.
At the weekend, the Islamists said they would attend the talks, but would not meet face-to-face with the government unless Ethiopia withdrew troops it had allegedly deployed to Somalia to protect the administration.
They also rejected Kenya as co-chair of the negotiations, accusing it of pro-government bias for supporting, along with Ethiopia, the deployment of a proposed regional peacekeeping force.
There was no immediate reaction to the letter from the mediators.
Mainly Christian Ethiopia denied reports that it had as many as 8 000 soldiers in Somalia, but acknowledged sending military advisers to help protect the government from "jihadists", some of whom were accused of links with al-Qaeda.