From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Mon Mar 23 2009 - 14:57:01 EST
Ethiopia PM silent on cost of military mission
By ARGAW ASHINE, NATION CorrespondentPosted
Monday, March 23 2009 at 19:17
ADDIS ABABA, Monday
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who is the commander-in-chief of the
country's defence forces, has refused to disclose the cost of the Somalia
military intervention.
Opposition MPs expressed their disappointment after Mr Meles refused to
disclose how many soldiers were killed or wounded during Ethiopia's two-year
military intervention in Somalia.
The PM last week told Parliament that he was neither obliged to make the
disclosure, nor was it necessary for Parliament to know the details of the
operation.
He, however, told Parliament how the Ethiopia intervention was important and
successful, and that it was highly appreciated by the international
community.
Opposition MP Temesgen Zewide said whatever the cost, both Parliament and
the public were entitled to know.
The only independent MP and former Ethiopia President Negasso Gidada said Mr
Meles's position was an insult both to Parliament and the public.
Mr Lidetu Ayalew, the chair of Ethiopia Democratic Party (EDP), the only
opposition party that supported the Ethiopian intervention, also expressed
his disappointment by the Prime Minister's refusal to disclose the cost.
"The public, who made the sacrifices, have a right to know," Mr Lidetu said.
In his recent press briefing, Mr Meles refused to answer the same question
from journalists, saying only that, the loss and causalities "were minimal".
Ethiopia sent about 10,000 troops to Somalia in 2006 till early this year.
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