Aweys Osman Yusuf

Mogadishu, Somalia, December 23, 2006 - The Eritrean government has denied Ethiopian accusations that it was destabilizing the peace in Somalia. Eritrean president Isaias Afewerke said Somalia does not need any Eritrean troops, rebuffing that a single Eritrean soldier was lingering in Somalia.

"The Ethiopian troops are definitely in Somalia and they intend to capture Somalia. The current internal conflicts in Somalia were sparked by the Ethiopian military forces in the country", he reiterated.

The reaction came after the Ethiopian government laid blame on rival Eritrea for arming the Islamic Courts Union and having military troops that are fighting alongside with Islamists.

The two arch-enemies fought a 1998 to 2000 border war and still have border disputes.

Both countries, which were among Middle Eastern and African countries accused in a UN report last month of meddling Somalia's internal affairs, exchange a rhetoric of accusations.

Afewerke urges Ethiopia to withdraw its troops from Somalia and give Somalis alone the chance to solve their differences.

Somalia has had no affective central government since 1991 when tribal warlords toppled former president Siad Barre.

Source: Shabelle Media Network