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Somalia minister,
Ethiopian officers confer on current security: report
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ADDIS
ABEBA(July 15,2008) - Somalia
Defense minister Muhyidin Muhammad Hajji Ibrahim met and held discussions
with Ethiopia military officers on current security challenges and
ways to tackle them, according to a report from the war-ravaged neighboring
country.
The report said the two sides discussed cooperation in a secret meeting
which took place in Baydhabo city, the capital of Bay Region [south-central
Somalia],
The security situation in Baydhabo, which hosts parliament, is particularly
on the verge of spiraling out of control, the report noted.
Citing "sources close to the meeting", the report said the
Ethiopian officers and interim Somali government defense minister
agreed to cooperate on security, with the Ethiopian government suggesting
that Somali government army soldiers be trained to take part in maintenance
of security.
Somali defense minister Muhyidin Muhammad Hajji in particular requested
the Ethiopian government to provide arms to Somali troops, saying
that they did not have adequate weapons with which to keep security
and defend themselves against the insurgents," Somaaljecel.com
wrote on its Monday edition.
Reports say that the Ethiopian officers accused some Somali soldiers
of working with the insurgents, even selling arms and ammunition to
them and sometimes taking off their uniforms and fighting alongside
them.
The report noted that, to counter this matter, the Ethiopian officers
proposed that Somali soldiers undergo training as well as work with
Ethiopian troops based in Somalia, that every Somali army unit be
led by an Ethiopian officer so that their activities are known.
"The Somali defense minister accepted the proposal," said
the report.
Interim Somali government soldiers trained in Ethiopia are stationed
in Bay and Banaadir regions. Another batch of soldiers trained in
Ethiopia have not yet arrived in the country; they are said to have
encamped in Doolow, a locality that straddles border between Somalia
and Ethiopia, the report said.
He requested the Ethiopian government to temporarily pay salaries
of Somali government soldiers, as the report indicated, Somali government
lacked financial resources and therefore his ministry could not pay
soldiers salaries.
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