Somalia: Ethiopia engages in secret talks with Islamists
Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 4:15 am
Somalia: Ethiopia engages in secret talks with Islamists
Mogadishu 04, August.07 ( Sh.M.Network)- The leaders of Somalia's routed Union of Islamic Courts and the Ethiopian government have reportedly been having undisclosed dialog, according to Asharqalawsat, the Arabic online newspaper based in London.
The paper reported that no results have yet to come out from the secret talks. An Islamist leader, who asked to remain anonymous, confirmed that Ethiopia and Somalia's Islamists were negotiating, but he did not say if the talks have been done through telephone or meeting, Asharqalawsat said.
He said the talks focused on issues relating to the presence of Ethiopian forces in Somalia, indicating that solution may emerge only if the thousands of Ethiopian troops in strife-ridden country were pulled out.
He pointed that number of African and Arab states were mediating the Islamist-Ethiopian talks, refusing to mention the names of the countries involved in the arbitration.
A massive Ethiopian military offensive defeated the Islamic Courts Union in December last year after the Courts were dominating a swathe of southern regions of the country, including the capital, Mogadishu, for six months.
The paper said some Arabic diplomats, who asked to remain anonymous, said Ethiopia was forced to be engaged in the dialog with Islamists after its military troops on the ground of Somalia had faced constant attacks and bombings from the Islamist-led insurgents.
They said Ethiopia was seeking for a way to get out of the Horn of African country after backing the transitional government to be in firm of control of the volatile city.
Mogadishu 04, August.07 ( Sh.M.Network)- The leaders of Somalia's routed Union of Islamic Courts and the Ethiopian government have reportedly been having undisclosed dialog, according to Asharqalawsat, the Arabic online newspaper based in London.
The paper reported that no results have yet to come out from the secret talks. An Islamist leader, who asked to remain anonymous, confirmed that Ethiopia and Somalia's Islamists were negotiating, but he did not say if the talks have been done through telephone or meeting, Asharqalawsat said.
He said the talks focused on issues relating to the presence of Ethiopian forces in Somalia, indicating that solution may emerge only if the thousands of Ethiopian troops in strife-ridden country were pulled out.
He pointed that number of African and Arab states were mediating the Islamist-Ethiopian talks, refusing to mention the names of the countries involved in the arbitration.
A massive Ethiopian military offensive defeated the Islamic Courts Union in December last year after the Courts were dominating a swathe of southern regions of the country, including the capital, Mogadishu, for six months.
The paper said some Arabic diplomats, who asked to remain anonymous, said Ethiopia was forced to be engaged in the dialog with Islamists after its military troops on the ground of Somalia had faced constant attacks and bombings from the Islamist-led insurgents.
They said Ethiopia was seeking for a way to get out of the Horn of African country after backing the transitional government to be in firm of control of the volatile city.
