Meles of Ethiopia Speaks.

[Libaax-Sankataabte]

Meles describes UIC as "mixed bag" "Our beef is with Al-Itihad

Nemrud Berhane

Ethiopian Reporter

July 2, 2006

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Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said that Ethiopia did not view the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) which recently took control of most parts of Mogadishu, as not a "homogeneous entity" but one comprised of people with differing motives.

 

Meles who held a press conference at his office on Wednesday said that Ethiopia did not in general consider the UIC as a threat but those elements of the Al-Itihad and those who are advancing Eritrea's cause to destabilize Ethiopia.

 

"We are aware that the Union of Islamic Courts is a Union of desperate forces. There are those Somalis who have supported the establishment of such courts because of the desperation that came as a result of the absolute chaos and lawlessness in Mogadishu. So, in a sense, for much of the supporters of these courts, the issue is one of order and stability. We understand their desire and we have nothing against that desire," Meles said.

He however added that there were within that union whose specific agenda had nothing to do with Somalia. These, Meles said, were the "messenger boys of Eritrea," and "were actively involved in the fighting in Mogadishu."

 

Meles said that Ethiopia holds it as threat that not only is Al-Itihad a member of the union but that Al-Itihad is also at a position of leadership in it.

 

"Our beef is with Al-Itihad-the internationally recognized terrorist group. It so happens that at the moment the new leadership of the union of the courts is dominated by this particular group. Indeed the chairman of the new council that they have established is a certain colonel who happens to be the head of Al-Itihad," he said.

 

Last Saturday, Hassan Dahir Aweys was appointed head of the council - made up of 88 clerics - which took control of the lawless capital Mogadishu and other key towns.

 

Aweys is the founder of Al-Itihad Al-Islami- a group that was weakened after retaliatory attacks against it by Ethiopia.

 

The council named two other hardline clerics, Omar Iman Abubakar and Abdullahi Ali Afrah, as deputy chairmen while Muhamoud Sheikh Ibrahim Suleh -- who declared jihad or holy war on the US-backed warlord alliance was made secretary general.

 

The council which was initially known as Council of Islamic Courts of Mogadishu is now named by its leaders as the Council of Islamic Courts of Somalia (CICS).

 

"The threat posed to Ethiopia by the dominance of the Islamic Courts-by Al-Itihad is obvious. As many of you would remember Al-Itihad had been involved in a serious of terrorist outrages in our capital," Meles said.

Al-Itihad in the late 90s carried out several attacks on Ethiopia including one attempt at the life of the late Abdulmajid Hussein who was the then Minister of Transport and Communication.

 

Meles denied allegations that Ethiopia had sent its troops into Somalia, but said that his government would not hesitate to defend itself if the Union of Islamic Courts gave it reason to.

 

Ethiopia has beefed up its troops along its borders with Somalia.

With regards to the support to the Transitional Federal Government, Meles said that Ethiopia's position remains the same as the international community.

 

Source:Ethiopian Reporter