Zenawi Declares that Ethiopian Troops Will Remain Somalia

sEthiopian troops will continue to back Somalia’s fragile interim government until all Islamist elements are defeated, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi declared Wednesday. Zenawi told his country’s parliament that his goal was to prevent the extremist forces from taking power in Somalia because they posed an imminent threat to Ethiopia. The Prime Minister cited the powerful Islamic Courts Union, which controlled most of Somalia in 2006, which has twice declared a jihad (holy war) against Ethiopia. [P.E]