Washington, Dec 27, 2006 – The US government Wednesday voiced support for Ethiopia's military strikes in neighboring Somalia, aimed at Islamic militants fighting the country's weak interim government.

The US State Department noted that the transitional government in Mogadishu says it asked for help from Ethiopia, which sent troops and warplanes against the Islamists in southern Somalia in recent days.

' Ethiopia has genuine security concerns with regard to developments within Somalia and has provided support at the request of the legitimate governing authority,' a State Department spokeswoman said.

The US has been in regular contact with the Ethiopian government and has urged it 'to exercise maximum restraint ... in Somalia and to ensure the protection of civilians,' the spokeswoman said.

Ethiopia admitted Sunday that it had intervened in Somalia, declaring war on militants of the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) who have gained control of much of the country's south and centre.

Ethiopia says its troops seized several towns from the UIC and killed about 1,000 UIC fighters. The UIC has said hundreds died. The figures could not be independently verified, but the Red Cross put the number of dead in the hundreds.

Experts warn the Somali conflict could escalate into a regional war and a UN report has said some 10 countries were somehow meddling in the country's affairs.

Somalia has been without strong central rule since the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohammed Siyad Barre plunged the country into anarchy.

Source: Deutsche Presse-Agentur

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