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Eritrea
says US masking 'invasion' of Somalia with peacekeeping
plan |
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Wednesday,
November 29th, 2006 |
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ASMARA (AFP) - Eritrea has lashed out at the United States for
allegedly masking an "invasion" of Somalia by backing a UN Security
Council resolution that would authorize peacekeepers for the
country.
In a new sign of deteriorating relations between Washington and
Asmara, Eritrean Information Minister Ali Abdu accused the United
States Tuesday of supporting a proposal that could destabilize the
entire Horn of Africa.
"The peacekeeping force has been totally authored by its architects
-- the United States," he said. "It is against the wishes of the
Somali people, and the US is using the peacekeeping force to cover
its invasion in Somalia."
Washington plans to introduce a draft resolution at the Security
Council this week to authorize a regional peackeeping mission and
ease a 1992 arms embargo against Somalia in order to keep it
equipped.
The move is aimed at bolstering the weak but internationally
recognized Somali government, which is on the verge of all-out war
with powerful Islamists in control of Mogadishu and much of southern
and central Somalia.
The government has the backing of Ethiopia, which says it is ready
to fight the Islamists, while Eritrea denies accusations it is
arming the Islamists to cause problems for its arch-foe Ethiopia.
Ali Abdu repeated denials of Eritrean involvement in Somalia,
arguing they had no reason to use the country as proxy battleground
to settle unresolved scores with Ethiopia after their bloody
1998-2000 border war.
"We have never seen Somalia as a proxy battlefield with Ethiopia,
and there is no reason to go there for that," he said. "The border
conflict with Ethiopia is settled: what only remains is the
implementation of the agreements."
Some diplomats and analysts fear that UN Security Council approval
of the peacekeeping force, which the Islamists have vowed to fight,
will lead to broader regional conflict, a sentiment echoed by Ali
Abdu.
"It would have very dire consequences, not only for Somalia, but on
security and stability in the whole region," he said. "The solution
lies in the hands of the Somalis, who should be left alone to solve
their own problems."
His comments come amid growing tension between the United States,
which is among those accusing Asmara of meddling in Somalia, and
Eritrea, which says Washington is using Ethiopia to fight the
Islamists.
On Monday, the United States said it would suspend issuing tourist
and business visas in Eritrea beginning next week, until Asmara
allows a new US consular officer into the country.
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| Caynaba News
kama masuul aha afkaarta ay xanbaarsan yihiin qoraallada ay
akhristayaashu fekerkooda ku cabbirayaan. |
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11:00 GMT
