By Omer Redi Ahmed
Resident Correspondent
Inter Press Service (IPS), Spanish News Agency (EFE) and PANAPRESS November 4, 2011
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (EFE) – Eritrea’s representative to the African Union, Ambassador Girma Asmerom, has today downplayed Kenyan and Somali media accusations that his country has sent arms to Al-Shabab fighters in Somalia.
The Kenyan government said arms were flown to al-Shabaab controlled areas of central and southern Somalia during the past few days, including a delivery of two plane loads of armaments on Tuesday.
Government did not say where weapons were coming from but Kenyan and Somali media reported Eritrea was behind the arms supply - an allegation immediately dismissed by the Red Sea state.
"The government of Eritrea states categorically that these accusations are pure fabrications and outright lies, as Eritrea has not sent any arms to Somalia," Eritrea’s Ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement on Wednesday.
“The accusations are deliberate distortions; based on UN’s Monitoring Group report everyone knows Al-Shabab has never had shortage of arms,” Eritrea’s Permanent Representative to AU, told EFE today. “Hence, Eritrea doesn’t have reasons to supply arms to Al-Shabab; it never had and it never will,” Ambassador Girma Asmerom added.
Ridiculing the accusation, Ambassador Girma said, “Already Kenyan fighter jets and U.S. drones are striking Al-Shabab targets inside Somalia and if they see planes loaded with arms why don’t they destroy them. It is an insult to the intelligence of the international community.”
Kenya on Wednesday said that its forces will carry out cross border air strikes against the Somali militia targets to destroy the weapons and bases of al-Shabaab. The defence force warned residents in 10 southern Somali towns to stay away from militant bases. Kenya’s decision to confront al-Shabaab came after a spate of kidnappings and killings along the Kenyan coast and in a refugee camp receiving Somali nationals fleeing famine and conflict.
The UN Security Council last year imposed sanctions against Eritrea accusing it of supporting insurgents in Somalia. The sanctions include arms embargo, travel ban and assets freeze on its leaders who have allegedly broken arms blockade on Somalia.
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