Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Ethiopian Prime Minster Meles Zenawi said Monday the Ethiopian troops in Somalia, which had already pulled out its one third force in January from the East African war-torn nation, will complete its withdrawal very soon.
"We are looking forward to withdraw our left two third troops," he said.
Regarding the continuous attack on AU's Ugandan peacekeepers since their arrival and other attacks in the capital Mogadishu, Meles said the situation on the ground is not as exaggerated as the media presented it.
"Not a single Ugandan soldier was harmed. I don't see anything that can hinder the peace and reconciliation process in the country," he said.
"Mogadishu is the most armed capital in the world and it has been the capital of a broken state," he said, adding that the attacks are insignificant compared to the potential instability.
Regarding countries who promised to send their troops like Nigeria, Ghana and Malawi, Meles said that nothing changed about the situation and expressed his hopes that they will send their troops soon.
Mogadishu has been plagued by growing violence since the government, backed by soldiers from neighboring Ethiopia, drove out the Supreme Council of Islamic Courts (SCIC) late last year.
Somalia has not had an effective national government since 1991, when warlords overthrew former ruler Mohamed Siad Barre and then turned on one another, throwing the country into anarchy.
Source: Xinhua, Mar 13, 2007