Ethiopia rebels say killed 267 soldiers, govt denies

www.reuters.com

* Rebels in potential oil/gas region claim 34 attacks

* Government calls ONLF statement "outright lies"

By Barry Malone

ADDIS ABABA, Nov 9 (Reuters) - An Ethiopian rebel group said on Tuesday it had killed 267 soldiers since the beginning of October, in its first such claim since the government signed a peace deal with one its factions last month.

The Ethiopian government denied the claim.

The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) wants more autonomy for the country's mainly ethnic-Somali Ogaden region and has warned foreign companies exploring for oil and gas to stay away or face attack.

Firms, including Petronas [PETR.UL] and Vancouver-based Africa Oil Corporation (AOI.V: Quote), are working in the Ogaden. Petronas has asked for government approval of a deal to sell all its oil and gas concessions to locally-owned SouthWest Energy (H.K.) Ltd.

Commercial amounts of oil and gas have not yet been extracted. Continued...

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South Sudan's quest to be EAC member

The Standard

By David Ochamiin Juba

South Sudan is warming up for the East African Community once the January 9 referendum is concluded.

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardiit, who is also Sudan’s First Vice President, told a Kenyan MPs’ delegation to Juba an independent South Sudan would certainly join the East African Community and foster friendly ties with its new neighbours.

Twenty seven MPs, including six assistant ministers and chairmen of the Public Accounts, Public Investment and Education committees of Kenya’s Parliament, are on a fact finding mission of the build-up and preparation for the vote that will determine if the South gains autonomy from Khartoum Government.

They are holding meetings with key officials in the region, including its President and Parliament.

South Sudan’s civil society leaders, spearheading the separatist campaign, said Kenya, which mid-wifed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in Nairobi in 2005 and whose final stage is the referendum, should ensure a free and timely vote.

Assistant Minister Peter Munya said the referendum would offer South Sudanese an opportunity to "reclaim your human dignity" and must "go ahead as agreed without equivocation". Read More