Baidoa/Addis Ababa, December 27, 2006 – A senior Ethiopian government delegation led by Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin held discussions with the President, Prime Minister and other senior officials of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia on the current affairs of the region in Baidoa on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Information told Ethiopia News Agency on Wednesday that the Ethiopian government delegation, which comprised Information Minister Birhan Hailu, met and held discussions Somalia TFG President, Abdillahi Yusuf, Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Gedi and senior officials of the TFG Ministry of Information.

The two parties held the discussion on the counteroffensive launched by the Ethiopian National Defense Forces and that of the TFG and on the achievements obtained so far, the ministry said.

Moreover, they also discussed on the various issues on which Ethiopia and the TFG can do together, the ministry said.

The two parties have reached agreement to strengthen the counterattack launched against the extremists, to make the gains made so far sustainable and on ways of starting dialogue among the TFG and other peace loving Somalia forces, except the extremists.

They also urged the fundamentalist group which is backed by the Eritrean government and various anti-peace forces that are retreating in disarray to leave Somalia immediately.

The ministry said the two parties reached a common understanding on the need to solving the Somalia issue by the Somalis themselves.

They also agreed on the deployment of African peacekeeping force urgently in Somalia as per the decision passed by IGAD, AU and UNSC in a bid to bring about sustainable peace in the country.

They also urged the international community and donors to provide the necessary humanitarian assistance to the people of Somalia.

Both the Ethiopian government and the TFG called on the international community to provide appropriate support to the TFG.

The Ethiopian delegation in its stay also held discussions with senior Ethiopian military commanders and encouraged the members of the defense forces to further intensify their offensive against the remnants of the extremist group.

The Ethiopian government delegation returned home late on Tuesday, the ministry added.

Source: ENA