From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Sun Aug 30 2009 - 16:15:46 EDT
Somalia: Government confirms the presence ofEthiopian troops
30/08/2009
MOGADISHU (Mareeg)-Somali government has confirmed Sunday the presence of
Ethiopian troops in Hiiraan region in central Somalia, officials said.
Abdirahman Aden Ibbi, the deputy and acting prime minister said Ethiopian
troops were in Beledweyne, the regional capital of Hiiraan region and were
helping the Somali government soldiers.
Hundreds of Ethiopian troops with military armoured vehicles entered in
Beledweyne. Backing Somali government soldiers and drove al Shabaab
militants out of the town.
Speaking to the reporters in Mogadishu, Mr. Ibbi denied that the Ethiopian
and government soldiers harassed the civilians in the town.
The Ethiopian government has denied that their troops have returned.
Ethiopia's government spokesman in Addis Ababa, Bereket Simon said no troops
entered in Somali territory.
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