Somalia: War between Eritrea-vs-Ethiopia?
Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 7:41 am
8000 Ethiopia troops and 2000 Eritrea troops in Somalia?
Diplomatic sources estimate that between 6,000-8,000 Ethiopians are now inside Somalia, bolstering the government's faltering control.
Ranged against them are not just the well-armed militia of the Islamic Courts, but also about 2,000 fully equipped Eritrean troops, says our analyst.
Both sides in the Somali conflict are reported to have major outside backers - the government supported by Ethiopia, Uganda and Yemen; the Islamic Courts receiving aid from Iran, Libya, Saudi Arabia and Gulf States.
Arms are reported to be flowing into the country on a daily basis, says our Africa analyst.
And the diplomats warn that if the Eritreans, now reported to be on the frontline, come into a direct confrontation with the Ethiopians it could take the whole region down, says our analyst.
Souce; bbc.co.uk
Diplomatic sources estimate that between 6,000-8,000 Ethiopians are now inside Somalia, bolstering the government's faltering control.
Ranged against them are not just the well-armed militia of the Islamic Courts, but also about 2,000 fully equipped Eritrean troops, says our analyst.
Both sides in the Somali conflict are reported to have major outside backers - the government supported by Ethiopia, Uganda and Yemen; the Islamic Courts receiving aid from Iran, Libya, Saudi Arabia and Gulf States.
Arms are reported to be flowing into the country on a daily basis, says our Africa analyst.
And the diplomats warn that if the Eritreans, now reported to be on the frontline, come into a direct confrontation with the Ethiopians it could take the whole region down, says our analyst.
Souce; bbc.co.uk