Addis Ababa, 12 June 2007 - Prime Minister Gedi said his government is closely monitoring the activities of the newly-formed anti-government, anti-Ethiopian coalition sponsored by Eritrea.

In an interview with VOA ,Prime Minister Gedi said an immediate goal of the Eritrean-based coalition is to derail a government-hosted Somali national reconciliation conference, scheduled to begin next Saturday in Mogadishu.

"They are pursuing activities that are aimed at spoiling the reconciliation process," he said. "Who is sitting in Asmara with the Eritrean government?They are not taking care of the interests of the Somali people. Those are enemies of the Somali people, and that is why they are forming this coalition. An alliance of Islamic courts and terrorists will never come in this country."

The coalition, established in late May,is believed to be made up of at least four major groups: the defeated Islamic Courts Union, Ogaden National Liberation Front, Oromo Liberation Front and former parliament members of the Somali transitional government, according to VOA.

Last Saturday, the Somali leader said that Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed has been named political leader of the new coalition in Eritrea, slamming the door for good on western hopes that the interim government could reconcile with moderates in the courts.

Source: Ethiopian Herald