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| Ethiopia says military in Somalia | Ethiopia says military in Somalia |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Ethiopia's prime minister has for the first time admitted to having soldiers inside Somalia. | |
| Meles Zenawi told parliament that he had sent military trainers to help the beleaguered interim government. | Meles Zenawi told parliament that he had sent military trainers to help the beleaguered interim government. |
| But he denied sending a fighting force, despite several eyewitness reports of hundreds of troops. | But he denied sending a fighting force, despite several eyewitness reports of hundreds of troops. |
| Ethiopia backs Somalia's government against an Islamist group which now controls most of the south. The Islamists deny having al-Qaeda links. | Ethiopia backs Somalia's government against an Islamist group which now controls most of the south. The Islamists deny having al-Qaeda links. |
| Mr Meles did not say how many military trainers were in Somalia but accused the Union of Islamic Courts of attacking targets inside Ethiopia. | Mr Meles did not say how many military trainers were in Somalia but accused the Union of Islamic Courts of attacking targets inside Ethiopia. |
| "We have the right to defend ourselves against these people. We have been very patient throughout this ordeal," he told parliament. | "We have the right to defend ourselves against these people. We have been very patient throughout this ordeal," he told parliament. |
| "If the incursion continues... the armed forces have a duty to respond to that. But at this moment, it has not reached this level." | "If the incursion continues... the armed forces have a duty to respond to that. But at this moment, it has not reached this level." |
| Earlier this month, residents of a Somali town said that Ethiopian troops had helped government forces briefly take a town from the Union of Islamic Courts. | Earlier this month, residents of a Somali town said that Ethiopian troops had helped government forces briefly take a town from the Union of Islamic Courts. |
| The UIC immediately vowed to wage a "holy war" in revenge. | The UIC immediately vowed to wage a "holy war" in revenge. |
| The town of Bur Haqaba lies on the road from the government base in Baidoa to the Islamist-held capital, Mogadishu. | The town of Bur Haqaba lies on the road from the government base in Baidoa to the Islamist-held capital, Mogadishu. |
| Earlier, the BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Baidoa saw a convoy of Ethiopian army trucks pass through, with about 200 troops. | Earlier, the BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Baidoa saw a convoy of Ethiopian army trucks pass through, with about 200 troops. |
| Talks | Talks |
| In Kenya, members of the International Contact Group on Somalia led by the United States are meeting officials of Somalia's transitional government and those from the UIC. | In Kenya, members of the International Contact Group on Somalia led by the United States are meeting officials of Somalia's transitional government and those from the UIC. |
| US assistant secretary for African affairs Jendayi Fraser will be chairing the meeting of the 11 members of the contact group. | US assistant secretary for African affairs Jendayi Fraser will be chairing the meeting of the 11 members of the contact group. |
| President Abdullahi Yussuf and the UIC's foreign affairs co-ordinator are also expected. | President Abdullahi Yussuf and the UIC's foreign affairs co-ordinator are also expected. |
| Somalia has not had a functioning national government since 1991. | Somalia has not had a functioning national government since 1991. |