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Ethiopia Arrests Rebel Forces Crossing From Somalia, ENA Says

Bloomberg
Monday, May 03, 2010
by Jason McLure

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May 3 (Bloomberg) -- Ethiopia arrested an undisclosed number of people from the rebel Oromo Liberation Front and Somalia’s Islamist al-Shabaab militia who crossed into the country with alleged plans to disrupt Ethiopia’s May 23 elections, the state-owned Ethiopian News Agency said.

Those held were trained by the Eritrean government, which Ethiopia accused of trying to undermine this month’s vote by instigating ethnic conflict and starting a campaign of bombing, the Addis Ababa-based news agency said, citing Ethiopia’s police and intelligence service.

The rebels were detained while crossing into Ethiopia from neighboringSomalia, ENA said.

Calls to Eritrea’s Ministry of Information didn’t connect when Bloomberg called seeking comment. On April 24, five people were killed and 20 injured after a bomb exploded in northern Ethiopia near the Eritrean border. Ethiopia’s government said it suspected Eritrean involvement in the attack.

To contact the reporter on this story: Jason McLure in Addis Ababa via Johannesburg at [email protected].

Source: Bloomberg Press

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