Egypt denies arming Islamists

2006-07-30 19:08

Cairo - Egypt on Sunday voiced dismay at accusations by Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Gedi that it was supplying weapons to the Islamic Courts militia who control the capital Mogadishu, a foreign ministry statement said.

Egypt "regrets the statements which appeared in the media made by the head of the Somali interim government, in which he describes efforts by certain countries including Egypt to destroy the interim government and spread terrorism in Somalia," the statement said.

On Saturday Gedi accused Egypt, Libya and Iran of "contributing to the violence in Somalia through Eritrea".

Government officials had previously alleged that two mysterious Russian-made Ilyushin 76-cargo planes bearing the emblem of Kazakhstan that landed in Mogadishu last week were carrying arms shipments from Eritrea.

"Everyone knows, especially officials in the Somali government, about the ongoing efforts undertaken by Egypt to support peace and stability in Somalia," the Egyptian statement said.

"These efforts included offering all the support to the Somali interim government and getting all the regional and international parties to encourage the Somali parties to engage in dialogue," it said.

Gedi's claim came amid heightened tension in Somalia over the deployment by Ethiopia - Eritrea's arch-foe - of thousands of troops to protect his interim government from the Islamic alliance.

- AFP