Ethiopia as usual accuses Eritrea over links to al-Shabaab

Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of supporting Somali al-Shabaab fighters

Nov 6, 2013 (World Bulletin) — Ethiopia has accused Eritrea for supporting al-Shabaab, planning to conduct attacks in the country.

“Ethiopia has reached the information that al-Shabaab will conduct a terrorist attack in the country with the support of Eritrea,” it was stated on an Ethiopian television channel.

All security units were asked to report any suspicious acts and to declare high level alert status in the country’s entrances, check points and crowded areas.

Ethiopia has the “power to fight against terrorism,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman of Ethiopia, Dina Mufti said. Ethiopian security forces are ready for the attack of al-Shabaab which represents al-Qaeda in Horn of Africa, containing the countries of Djibouti, Somalia, Eritrea, Yemen, Mufti also said.

Mufti stated that Ethiopia is cooperating with Kenya and Uganda against Al-Qaeda. Also these three countries are sharing information as a part of military training exercise against Al-Shabab, Mufti added.

–World Bulletin

Ethiopia on heightened alert for possible al-Shabab attack

After receiving evidence that al-Shabab is planning attacks in the country, Ethiopia has put its security forces on heightened alert, say officials.

Nov 6, 2013 (Reuters) — Ethiopia has put its police and security forces on heightened alert after receiving strong evidence that Somalia’s al-Shabab group is planning attacks in the country, officials said on Tuesday.

The move came three weeks after officials said two Somali suicide bombers accidentally blew themselves up while preparing to kill soccer fans during Ethiopia’s World Cup qualifying match against Nigeria.

Al-Shabab has vowed to exact revenge on Ethiopia for sending troops to Somalia to fight the militant group, alongside African Union forces from Uganda, Burundi and Kenya.

“There is strong evidence that indicates al-Shabaab and terrorist groups backed by Eritrea are preparing to carry out attacks in Addis Ababa and other areas of the country soon,” the National Intelligence and Security Service and the federal police said in a joint statement.

Addis Ababa often accuses the government in neighbouring Eritrea of supporting rebels, which Asmara staunchly denies.

‘Suspicious activity’
The statement, read on state television, said security forces were already on heightened alert and called on the public to inform police if they encountered “suspicious” activity.

Hotel staff and private landlords should verify the identity of visitors, the statement said.

It urged soldiers to remain vigilant at checkpoints along the country’s borders.

In September, al-Shabab gunmen raided an upmarket shopping mall in Nairobi, killing at least 67 people in a four-day siege.

Ethiopia says it has thwarted several attacks over the past two years, which it blamed on domestic rebel groups as well as Somali insurgents.

However, it has so far been spared the sorts of assaults seen in nearby countries – such as the Nairobi mall siege and an attack that killed 74 soccer fans in Uganda as they watched the 2010 World Cup final on television.