Friday, December 01, 2006

Ethiopia: Primer authorized to action against Somalia Islamists

Bonny Apunyu

(SomaliNet) The Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi has received a formal authorization from parliament to take any legal action necessary to combat a "clear and present danger" from Islamist forces in neighboring Somalia.

This took effect on Thursday when Ethiopia's parliament voted to give the Ethiopian premier the authority.

Ethiopia's parliament adopted the motion by a 311-99 vote, with 16 members abstaining.

The resolution said that the legislative body sees "clear and present danger" from Somali Islamists, and suggested that their goal may be to attempt to unite all Somali-speaking people in a "greater Somalia."

The resolution also accused the Islamists of training, sheltering and arming Ethiopian groups opposed to the government, and accepting help from Ethiopia's rival in the Horn of Africa, Eritrea.

The parliament's vote authorizes Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to take any legal action to protect Ethiopia from an invasion. But Beyene Petros and other opposition lawmakers in the capital, Addis Ababa, expressed fear that the vote could be perceived by many people as war-mongering.-VOA

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