Eritrea Warns US Against Involvement In Somalia

ASMARA, January 13, 2007 – Eritrea warned the United States yesterday that its involvement in Somalia would “incur dangerous consequences” following a US air strike in the Horn of Africa nation targeting Al Qaeda suspects.

Eritrea has in a matter of years gone from being a US ally to one of its staunchest opponents, analysts say, because of what Asmara perceives as Washington’s support for rival Ethiopia in a long-standing border dispute.

“President Isaias Afwerki underlined that the turmoil being created in ... Somalia by the US administration through its mercenary agent (Ethiopia) would incur dangerous consequences,” a statement on the Information Ministry Web site said.

The Eritrean government recently accused Washington of being behind the war in Somalia where the interim government backed by Ethiopia routed the once-powerful Islamists in a two-week war.

Asmara has repeatedly denied Ethiopian allegations it sent thousands of Eritrean soldiers to fight alongside the Islamists.

Source: REUTERS