Ethiopian PM confirms his country has military officials in Somalia

The Associated Press
October 19, 2006
 
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia Ethiopia’s prime minister told parliament Thursday that he had sent military trainers to help Somalia’s struggling government, the first official confirmation of Ethiopian military officials in the neighboring country.
 
However, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said Ethiopia had not deployed a fighting force. He did not say how many trainers he had sent to Ethiopia’s eastern neighbor, but said the move was in keeping with international efforts to support a transitional government seeking to establish itself in a country that has been largely lawless for 15 years.
 
 ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia Ethiopia’s prime minister told parliament Thursday that he had sent military trainers to help Somalia’s struggling government, the first official confirmation of Ethiopian military officials in the neighboring country.
 
However, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said Ethiopia had not deployed a fighting force. He did not say how many trainers he had sent to Ethiopia’s eastern neighbor, but said the move was in keeping with international efforts to support a transitional government seeking to establish itself in a country that has been largely lawless for 15 years.