Admiral Osman is a very funny man. He claims to have freed 2 local WFP hostages his group abducted while they were on their way to assess food needs in the remote areas of Somali Region. A Osman is not fooling anyone but himself. The one wounded WFP employee who was rescued by the regional forces has alrleady gave authorities the identities of the thugs who opend fire on their vehicle.

Xaaji Borat, Worry about SSC. It has been a while since A Osman started to talk from his ****. He is a bankrupt old fart.

Admiral Osman's ONLF faction, OLF and Birrahun Nega's G7 had a meeting on April 23rd in Atlanta. Osman's faction now claims it is an Ethiopian liberation group fighting for united Ethiopia. :D The bankrupt ideology of A. Osman and his clueless boys is fascinating to witness. I suppose somebody forgot to tell the clowns that Ethiopians are already united and fighting poverty together ( their #1 enemy) .

Over 2000 Ethiopians of Somali, Oromo, Gambella origin filled the Hotel hall and participated in GTP meeting called by the Ethiopian government. It was the largest crowd to attend GTP meetings in North America. A few A Osman poodles along with a handful of OLF and Derg thugs tried to disrupt the meeting with no avail. Ethio Minnesotans made it abundantly clear that they stand with the government in its all out war against poverty. Two thumbs way up for the Organizing Committee for a job well done. GTP Meeting in North America April 10, 2011 (Pictures from Minneapolis, Toronto, Denver, San Jose, Seattle)

It is real and it is working. Don't get mad. Be glad. :D

If it is just propaganda then why get mad? Hmmmm...

As I mentioned yesterday, I've been exploring Ethiopia's Somali region. While my quest for Ahmed Guray's castle was a failure, I did see potential for adventure travel in the region. Adventure travelers generally are looking for three things: historical sights, interesting cultures, and natural wonders. The Somali region is a bit short of historical sights, although there are a few of interest, but it's strong on culture and nature. First, the historical sights. The main one is Alibilal Cave in the Erer District, about 10 km (6 miles) from Erer town. This cave is covered with prehistoric paintings of cows, giraffes, gazelle, and other figures. Last year I was amazed by the prehistoric cave art of Laas Geel in Somaliland, and I'm really curious to see this cave. I've seen some video footage and it looks impressive. Other historical sights include the mosque I wrote about yesterday, and some colonial buildings scattered about the region. The Somali Region is much stronger on cultural attractions. There aren't many places left in the world where you can see camel herders living much as they did centuries ago. You can drink fresh camel milk in traditional domed huts made of mats. Try shay Somali, Somali tea that's mixed with sugar and camel's milk and tastes a lot like Indian chai. The culture here preserves itself by oral traditions. Sitting with a clan elder and listening to his stories can be a one-of-a-kind experience. The Somali region is the easiest place to experience Somali culture, being cheaper than Somaliland and far safer than Somalia. Most Somalis don't speak English, of course, but I know of at least one Somali tour guide in Harar, Muhammed "Dake" (guleidhr @yahoo.com). He even spent some of his youth herding camels in this region! Harar makes the best base for seeing the Somali region. It's much cooler and more interesting than the dusty lowland regional capital of Jijiga, and only adds an hour to your trip. Because the Somalis are unused to tourism, adventure travelers will be free from a lot of the usual hassles like touts and pushy vendors. Expect plenty of attention though, and a large dose of curiosity. This isn't a bad thing. You'll get into lots of interesting conversations that will teach you about the local culture. Virtually all foreigners they see are working in NGOs, so expect a lot of questions about your development project. Ethiopia's Somali Region offers plenty of natural attractions for adventure travel. There are five regional parks with various types of wildlife. The Somali officials I spoke to recommended Dado Park, which has lion, giraffes, and elephants. I also got to see three families of baboons on the highway between Harar and Jijiga. Another attraction are the Somali Region's many hot springs. Like hot springs everywhere, they're reputed to have healing qualities and people come from all around to "take the waters". The easiest to get to from Harar or Jijiga is in the Erer district near Erer town, not far from the Alilbilal painted cave. The town is 113 km (68 miles) from Harar and the cave and hot springs together would make a good day trip from Harar. The Erer-Gota hot springs are located on the grounds of one of Haile Selassie's palaces (now gone to ruin) and it's still popular with people looking for cures of various diseases. Hot springs are popular with herders too, who wrap their lunch up in cloth and stick it in the water to cook it! Reminds me of wrapping potatoes in aluminum foil and sticking it in the coals of a campfire. Let me stress that while I've been through the Somali Region twice now, I haven't seen many of these attractions myself, only heard about them from Somalis. Hopefully next year I'll have a chance to explore this region more thoroughly. In the meantime, if you go to the Somali Region, please drop me a line and tell me your experiences. One person already has. A member of the Ethiopia-U.S. Mapping Mission wrote to tell me that he spent a year there in 1967-68 mapping the region. He had lots of fun hunting and exploring, even though he often didn't bathe for up to two weeks at a time! Veterans of the mission have a website called the Ethiopia-United States Mapping Mission with lots of information and photos. Be sure to check out the "Stories and Memories" section. Don't miss the rest of my series: Harar, Ethiopia: two months in Africa's City of Saints Coming up next: Not sure yet. Wherever my travels in the Harar region take me!

Zack, I know but do you remember what you wrote at the time of the President's visit to Minnesota? It is hard to remember lies, isn't it?

Soon I hope.

Xaji Borat is perpetually at this juncture. :D

I have been saying it for a long time in this forum. Ethiopia's VIABLE alternative port to Djibouti is Berbera. The rehabilitaion of the road from Hargiesa to Berbera should have been carried out long time ago. I guess better late than never. It is also wise of Somaliland to seek China's help in upgrading its port. Djibouti's leasing of the port management to Dubai company has created a lot of tension between Ethiopia and Djibouti.

The problem is no southern Somali political leader, even if he/she is high on khat, will grant Somalilanders' wish to carry out an internationally recognized referendum for independence. They may have to wait til kindgom come for that to happen.

There is a clear double standard when it comes to the international community's handling of Somaliland's quest for statehood. I watched Johnny Carson's interview with Zeinab Bedawi on BBC. He repeated the argument put forward by xabeshis that the barely existing government in Mogadishu has to ok Somaliland's wishes before the US or any other entity accepts its independence. But wait a minute, did the west ask and receive Serbia’s approval before recognizing Kosovo's independence?

At least three people have been killed during a day of rare anti-government protests in Egypt, reports say. In Cairo, where the biggest rallies were held, state TV said a policeman had died in clashes. Two protesters died in Suez, doctors there said. Thousands joined the protests after an internet campaign inspired by the uprising in Tunisia. In Cairo, police used tear gas and water cannon in an attempt to disperse the crowds. Activists had called for a "day of revolt" in a web message. Protests are uncommon in Egypt, which President Hosni Mubarak has ruled since 1981, tolerating little dissent. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said her administration supported "the fundamental right of expression and assembly" and urged all parties "to exercise restraint". She added that Washington believed the Egyptian government was "stable" and "looking for ways to respond to the legitimate needs and interests of the Egyptian people". The events in Cairo were co-ordinated on a Facebook page - tens of thousands of supporters clicked on the page to say they would take part. Reports said the social networking site Twitter had been blocked in Egypt and that mobile phone networks in the Cairo area were down. The Swedish-based website Bambuser, which streams video from mobile phones, said it had been blocked in Egypt. On its blog, it accused Egyptian officials of trying to control the news agenda. The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo said rallies had been held in several parts of the capital, and the turnout had been more than the organisers could have hoped. Police were taken aback by the anger of the crowd and let protesters make their way to the parliament building, he says. There police regrouped in full riot gear with tear gas and water cannon and temporarily drove the crowd back. However, protesters threw stones and stood their ground, pushing the police back until they were on the run. Our correspondent says the scale of the clashes will surely come as a shock to President Mubarak. Protests also broke out in other areas, including the eastern city of Ismailiya and the northern port city of Alexandria. In Alexandria, witnesses said thousands joined the protests, some chanting: "Revolution, revolution, like a volcano, against Mubarak the coward." 'Nothing to fear' In Cairo's Tahrir Square, demonstrators attacked a police water cannon vehicle, opening the driver's door and ordering the man out of the vehicle. Officers beat back protesters with batons as they tried to break the police cordons to join the main demonstration. Protesters alluded to the Tunisian uprising - this one using the French word "degage", meaning "out" One protester, 43-year-old lawyer Tareq el-Shabasi, told the Associated Press news agency: "I came here today willing to die, I have nothing to fear." The AFP news agency reported that protesters had gathered outside the Supreme Court holding large signs that read: "Tunisia is the solution." They then broke through lines of police and began to march through the streets, chanting: "Down with Mubarak." Some chants referred to Mr Mubarak's son Gamal, who some analysts believe is being groomed as his father's successor. "Gamal, tell your father Egyptians hate you," they shouted. The organisers rallied support saying the protest would focus on torture, poverty, corruption and unemployment, calling it "the beginning of the end". "It is the end of silence, acquiescence and submission to what is happening in our country," they said in comments carried by Reuters news agency. "It will be the start of a new page in Egypt's history - one of activism and demanding our rights." George Ishaq, an Egyptian opposition leader, said security forces had been "confounded". He added: "In the end, we will get our rights because this is just the beginning. "This will not end. Our anger will continue over the coming days. We will put forth our conditions and requests until the system responds and leaves." Disillusioned Weeks of unrest in Tunisia eventually toppled President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali earlier this month. Egypt has many of the same social and political problems that brought about the unrest in Tunisia - rising food prices, high unemployment and anger at official corruption. However, the population of Egypt has a much lower level of education than Tunisia. Illiteracy is high and internet penetration is low. There are deep frustrations in Egyptian society, our Cairo correspondent says, yet Egyptians are almost as disillusioned with the opposition as they are with the government; even the Muslim Brotherhood, the banned Islamist movement, seems rudderless. While one opposition leader, Mohamed ElBaradei, called on Egyptians to take part in these protests, the Muslim Brotherhood has been more ambivalent. Our correspondent adds that Egypt is widely seen to have lost power, status and prestige in the three decades of President Mubarak's rule.

Xaaji Borat, You are skirting the question.

Qodax Qorax, The President's detractors know the breakthrough he achieved in Minnesota. That is why they are going crazy here.

By the way, BBC's Zeinab Bedawi will have a special report about Somaliland on Wednesday.

TH aka Duke, Kilil 5 President went to a supposed ONLF2 Den, and he conquered it. That is the news of the day. You can take your grainy video and exaggerated story to bakaara market though you won't find any buyer. :D

As I wrote, the most nervous people reside in Hosni Mubarek's palace. Don't worry about Ethiopia. :D :

Xaaji Borat, Answer the question.

TH, There is more nervousness in Hosni Mubarek's palace (A Osman's handlers) than in Menilik palace. The aging autocrat is looking at what took place in the neighbouring Arab state with twitchy eye. :D

Xaaji Borat, Are you sure A Osman has good intentions for Somaliland? :rolleyes:

Right-hand-to-the-nose my foot! The President came to Minnesota and accomplished his mission. A Osman and his thugs must now do some soul searching. The sooner the better.