Somali President Abdulkassim Salat Hassan called Tuesday for Arab intervention to stop Ethiopian "aggression" which he claimed is aimed at overthrowing his transitional government.
"The government is trying to instill security and stability in Somali territory, but there are still foreign-backed elements working to stir up unrest and problems in the capital," Salat told a summit of Arab leaders.
"These efforts are being stymied by economic collapse caused by the civil war as well as direct and indirect Ethiopian aggression against Somalia," he said in Amman, urging Arab leaders to convince Ethiopia to dissist.
"This aggression is aimed at overthrowing the government and dividing Somalia into small cantons falling within its orbit which will spark a new war in the Horn of Africa," Salat said.
Salat also urged Arab states to extend "large assistance" to help Somalia rebuild itself and end 10 years of turmoil and violence between competing warlords during which time Somalia has gone without a central government.
The Somali leader also pressed Ethiopian President Ismail Omar Guelleh to support his transitional government.
Earlier this month, Ethiopia hosted a group of Somali warlords and other dissidents who last week joined forces in calling for Salat's new regime in Mogadishu to be replaced -- AMMAN (AFP)
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
