By Dagnachew Teklu
The Premier who, along with Visiting President Olusegun Obasanjo responded to questions from journalists at the national palace, noted that his county would defend itself against any Somali Islamic Courts Union (ICU) threat of holy war against Ethiopia.
But he said he hoped they will not come to that.
"If we are threatened by the Jihadists, we will take whatever measures are necessary to protect ourselves," he said adding his government's preoccupation was to see that African Union's and IGAD's peace efforts including moves to deploy peace keeping force in Somalia bear fruit.
Responding on the Islamist claims that Ethiopia was taking control of a Somali border town, Buur Haka, located at some 30 Kms from the Ethiopian border, and 65 kms south of Baidoa, the transitional federal government's current base, Meles only said it was baseless.
"As far as I know, the town Buur Haka is still under their control," Meles said refering to the Islamists who now control much of Somalia.
He however admitted that his country was giving training to the TFG police officers and other security elements.
Following accusations that Ethiopia had invaded Somalia, the Islamic courts have on a number of occasions declared Jihad against neighboring Ethiopia.
On Monday, UIC executive council leader Sheik Sharif said in news conference he held in Mogadishu they would wage a holy war against Ethiopia In an Interview with AFP on Tuesday, Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ambassador Solomon Abibi said that it was not unusual for the Islamic Courts in Somalia to propagate against Ethiopia which he said was a friendly country to Somalia.
But Monday's accusations that Ethiopian troops went in Bur Hakaba, he said, was "most treacherous." The Union of Islamic Courts took control of the capital Mogadishu early June after evicting tribal warlords who long dominated the clan-divided civilian population in Somalia.
Source: The Daily Moniotor, Oct. 12, 2006