afrol News, 30 September - Ethiopian government yesterday called on United Nations Security Council to deploy its peacekeeping force in neighbouring Somalia, where on-going conflicts have killed hundred of thousands and displaced about a million people since last year.

"We urge UN security council to discharge its responsibility by deploying a peacekeeping mission in Somalia as soon as possible or, at least, to allocate necessary resources to strengthen African Union Mission (AMISOM)," Ethiopian foreign minister Seyoum Mesfin told UN general assembly.

Mr Mesfin was referring to AU peacekeeping mission in Somalia, where 8,000 civilians have been killed and 1 million uprooted since early last year in fighting pitting transitional government and Ethiopian forces against Eritrea-backed Islamist rebels.

His comments came just days after an attack on an AU peacekeepers' base in Somali capital, Mogadishu, killed at least 11 civilians. He praised 2,600 AU peacekeepers from Uganda and Burundi, who arrived in Somalia last year.

"It is never too late for others to follow their example," Mr Mesfin told world leaders during his speech.

Ethiopian troops entered Somalia in 2006, to help country's interim government evict an Islamist movement that had seized control of Mogadishu and much of southern Somalia.

Foreign minister of Ethiopia's longtime rival Eritrea, Osman Saleh, said Addis Ababa and its ally, Washington, were largely to blame for humanitarian crisis.

"Tragedy in Somalia is another extremely grave humanitarian situation that has been exacerbated, if not brought about, essentially because of wrong US policies," Mr Saleh also told UN general assembly.

"United States warplanes occasionally pulverise Somali villages in name of war on terrorism," he added.

He said his country was encouraged by latest positive political developments in Somalia. A peace deal was signed in August at UN-led talks in Djibouti but it has been rejected by hard-liners and did not stop fighting.

Incessant violence has killed thousands of Somalis and displaced at least one million others, UN reports confirm.

Many in overwhelmingly Muslim Somalia resent UN-backed Somali government's reliance on Ethiopia, a traditional rival with a large Christian population and one of Africa's largest armies.

Ethiopia and Somalia fought a bloody war in 1977, and many Somalis see Ethiopians as abusive and heavy-handed. Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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