Ethiopia PM says country would defend against Somali Islamists

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World NewsHOLY WAR AGAINST ETHIOPIA
Ethiopia PM says his country would defend against Somali Islamists
10/10/2006 Home>>World News

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said the country would "take whatever measures are necessary'' if an attack took place.
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said Tuesday his country would defend itself against a Somali Islamic group's threat of holy war against Ethiopia.

Speaking to journalists at the National Palace in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, he said the country would "take whatever measures are necessary'' if an attack took place.

"But I hope it will not come to that,'' he said.

Tensions between Ethiopia, which supports Somalia's weak, U.N.-backed government, and the Islamic courts, which controls much of the war-ravaged country, have been mounting in recent months.

So far both sides have avoided any direct military confrontation.

On Monday, a top Islamic leader called for a holy war against Ethiopia, accusing its neighbour of deploying troops in Somalia to help the weak government to capture a strategic hill top town.

"Ethiopian troops have intentionally invaded our land,'' said Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed. "We will counter them soon.''

The Islamic courts have declared holy war against Ethiopia on a number of occasions in recent months.
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