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Suspect in Ethiopian woman’s murder held

Arab News


JEDDAH: Police in Jeddah have arrested a Yemeni national for allegedly killing an Ethiopian woman within 24 hours of her body being found in the Al-Salama district of Jeddah on Friday.

Police received reports about a woman’s naked body lying next to a four-story building. It was thought the woman might have fallen from the fourth floor of the building where she lived with her family.

Police said the woman had come for Haj and was residing in the Kingdom illegally. Authorities had ruled out the possibility of the woman committing suicide as the body was found unclothed.

Investigations revealed that the woman was involved in an illegal relationship with a Yemeni national.

The Yemeni man was arrested in a south Jeddah district. On questioning, the man told police he threw the woman from her top floor balcony following an argument.

The Yemeni man has been living and working in the Kingdom legally for over 10 years.

Ethiopian troops previously entered Somalia in 2006 to drive out the Islamic Courts Union [File: EPA]

Ethiopia troops 'return to Somalia'


Al Jazeera

Ethiopian troops have reportedly crossed into neighbouring Somalia after it made a plea for foreign troops to help it battle opposition fighters seeking to overthrow the government.

Somalia's parliamentary speaker made the request on Saturday after several days of heavy fighting in the north of the capital, Mogadishu.

"The government is weakened by the rebel forces. We ask neighbouring countries - including Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Yemen - to send troops to Somalia within 24 hours," Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur, the Somali parliamentary speaker, said.

Ethiopian troops last entered Somalia in late 2006 to support the then-government and drive out Islamic Courts Union fighters led by Sharif Ahmed, the current president.

Ahmed later joined the government after signing a UN-brokered peace deal and is now battling former allies from the al-Shabab and Hizbul-Islam groups, which have vowed to topple his government.

Border security

Al Jazeera's Mohammed Adow, reporting from Nairobi in Kenya, said that it remained to be seen what action Ethiopian forces would take.

"Ethiopia has got a big stake in what is going on in Somalia because it believes that its security would be threatened if the Islamist militias, such as al-Shabab, take over Somalia," he said.

"But I doubt it is sending its forces into Somalia, unless it gets its actions sanctioned by the United Nations, which would take weeks, if not months.

"Ethiopia's return to Somalia might be about securing its borders rather than heading to Mogadishu."

Nur said that he had been forced to call for help after the opposition fighters had been bolstered by hundreds of foreigners.

"We have a state of emergency in this country today because foreign fighters from all over the world are fighting the government," he said.

Nur also said that an al-Qaeda operative from Pakistan was directing the fighting and was based in the Sanna neighbourhood of Mogadishu, close to the presidential palace.

He did not provide any evidence for his claims.

The United States has previously said that the al-Shabab movement, which has vowed to topple the government, is supported by al-Qaeda.

Mohamed Sheikh Nor, a journalist in Mogadishu, told Al Jazeera that there was likely to be heavy fighting if the Ethiopian troops reached the central and southern areas controlled by the armed opposition groups.

"There will be confrontations and clashes," he said.

"Some of the politicians in the government say, however, that the Ethiopian troops can help set up the institutions of the government."

Al-Shabab and Hizbul-Islam launched an offensive against government forces on May 7 and more than 300 civilians are believed to have been killed in the resulting fighting.

Heavy fighting

There were reports of heavy fighting on Saturday in Hamarweh, another suburb near the presidential palace, after clashes in the northern Karan district overnight.

"I saw heavily armed Islamist fighters advancing onto Hamarweh area. They are firing mortar shells and government forces are retaliating," Warsameh Ahmed, a Mogadishu resident, told the AFP news agency.

"It seems they are close to taking control of the area."

Three high-profile government officials - the security minister, an MP and a senior police officer - have been killed in recent days.

More than 4,300 Ugandan and Burundian soldiers are already deployed in Somalia as part of an African Union (AU) force and are charged with protecting strategic sites such as the presidency, the port and the airport.

But the troops are not allowed to fight alongside government forces and are authorised only to retaliate if they come under direct attack.

Kenya said on Friday that it would not sit by and allow the situation in its neighbour to deteriorate further as it would destabilise the rest of the region.

It said that the AU was committed to increasing its commitment, but al-Shabab had warned against any foreign intervention.

Sheikh Hasan Yacqub, an al-Shabab spokesman, said in the southern port city of Kismayo: "Kenya had been saying that it will attack the mujahidin of al-Shabab for the last four months.

"If it tries to, we will attack Kenya and destroy the tall buildings of Nairobi."

Thousands of residents fled Mogadishu on Saturday, many of them joining the estimated 400,000 people who are living rough along the Afgooye corridor, about 20km south of the capital.

Ethiopia rejects Somali request

BBC News

Ethiopia has refused a request by Somalia for military support to fight insurgents, saying such an intervention would need an international mandate.

The Somali authorities have been battling Islamist insurgents who control much of the country.

The speaker of Somalia's parliament had earlier urged neighbouring countries to send troops within 24 hours.

Ethiopian troops helped topple an Islamist movement in Somalia in 2006, but were withdrawn earlier this year.

On Saturday Somali parliamentary Speaker Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur urged neighbouring Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Yemen to intervene as fierce fighting continued for a second day in the capital Mogadishu.

But Ethiopian government spokesman Bereket Simon said that an international mandate was needed for such an intervention.

He added that the international community, not just Somalia's neighbours, should assist its transitional government.

Assassinations

Somalia has been without an effective government since 1991. Its UN-backed transitional government controls only parts of Mogadishu, but little of the rest of the country.

There are some 4,300 African Union troops deployed in Mogadishu, but they lack any mandate to pursue the insurgents.

Pro-government forces have been fighting radical Islamist guerrillas in the capital since 7 May.

On Friday, gunmen killed Mohamed Hussein Addow, an MP who represented the Karan district where fighting has been particularly intense in recent days.

It was the third killing of a high-profile public figure in as many days.

Somalia's security minister - an outspoken critic of the militant Islamist group al-Shabab - was killed in a suicide attack in the northern town of Beledweyne, and Mogadishu's police commander was also killed this week.

Militant groups including al-Shabab, which is accused of links to al-Qaeda, have been trying to topple Somalia's government for three years.

Some four million people in Somalia - or about one-third of the population - need food aid, according to aid agencies.

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Ethiopia troops 'return to Somalia' (Al Jazeera)

Indian entrepreneurs to invest 4.2 billion USD in Ethiopia

ENA -

Indian entrepreneurs have received licenses to 439 investment projects in different parts of Ethiopia with an aggregate capital of 4.2 billion US dollars, Indian Ambassador to Ethiopia disclosed.

While visiting Dire Dawa town recently, Ambassador Gurjit Singh said trade and investment ties between Ethiopia and India have been flourishing since the two sisterly countries are in the same track development.

In fact, he said, the age-long Ethio-Indian cooperation has been further enhanced over the last few years, especially agriculture, infrastructure, communication technology, and human resource development sectors.

There is favorable trade and investment climate in Ethiopia, he said, Indian embassy will continue promoting the various investment opportunities to Indian entrepreneurs.

After holding fruitful discussions with students of Dire Dawa University, the ambassador pledged to donate 20,000 birr worth reference books to the university and strive to launch e-education among the university and Indian counterparts.

Mayor of town, Adem Farah said on his part the visit of the Indian ambassador aims at holding discussions with local entrepreneurs in order organize a symposium in the town.

Ethiopia says nation ready to prevent H1N1 flu virus

ENA -

Ethiopia's Ministry of Health said all the necessary preparations have been made to prevent H1N1 flu virus and is no more a threat.

In a press conference they jointly gave here on Saturday officials of the Ministry, Ethiopian Nutrition Research Institute and St. Paulos Hospital said coordinated effort was launched to hold back the threat and is under control.

St. Paulos Hospital General Manager Dr. Liya Kebede said the virus has been detected in two of three students who came here from USA last Saturday following an examination.

The manager said the examination was made on the students upon their arrival at the Bole International Airport last June 12, 2009.

Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI) Deputy General Director Dr. Amha Kebede on his part said St. Paulo and St. Peter Hospitals are ready to follow up people who are suspected of contracting the virus.

He said EHNRI is to provide case management training to professionals in different health facilities of the metropolis. He said the libratory in EHNRI is providing a 24 hour service.

Dr. Amha said efforts are well underway to import laboratory equipment that would help for fast detection.

He said exanimation unit has been established at Bole International Air port to investigate incoming passengers.

The deputy director said passengers who use Ethiopian airlines are obliged to fill out forms and training has been offered to staffs of the airliner.

He urged the public who had contacts with people coming form aboard and observe symptoms of the virus such as coughing to immediately go to health facilities.

He said anti Influenza medicine that would help to treat more than 100,000 people is also being distributed.

Public Relation Directorate Director with the ministry Ahmed Emano on his part said the ministry has launched activities to employ national prevention system with all regional states.

He said some 30 hospitals across the country including here in the metropolis are standby to treat and follow up cases. Trainings have been offered to health professionals.

The director urged the public to follow attentively update information about the disease.

The biopsy of the students which is sent abroad for confirmation showed that they have the virus, he said and added ,the result demonstrated that the checkup service made in the country is reliable.

More than 80 countries are now reporting cases of human infection with H1N1 flu and 163 deaths. Cases of the flu are also reported in Africa in Egypt, Morocco and South Africa, according to WHO.

The symptoms of this new H1N1 flu virus in people include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this new H1N1 virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.

The officials said the public could provide information when they observe symptoms of the virus and related issues through phone line 011 2 75 01 25.

Ethiopia - Women MPs should strengthen efforts to ensure their rights: Deputy Speaker

ENA - Ethiopia's House of People's Representatives Deputy Speaker, Shitaye Minale said women parliamentarians should further enhance their role in the efforts geared toward ensuring their rights.

Speaking at the closing of a training organized by the House of Federation for women MPs, Shitaye said the parliamentarians are expected to strive for the same purpose.

She said the government has been executing wide-ranging activities aiming at tackling socio-economic problems of women. It has also been striving to improve the participation of Ethiopian women in leadership and decision making.

Deputy Government whip with the House, Netsanet Asfaw on the occasion presented a research paper entitled " Women and Media".

According to the organizers the training is believed to raise the awareness of the parliamentarians to raise on conflict resolution, leadership, and other gender related issues.

The four-day training attracted 84 women parliamentarians.

Ethiopia - 26 health stations readied for service

ENA - Some 26 health stations constructed in Bale Zone, Oromia State at a cost of over 39 million Birr are readied for service, zonal health department said.

Department head, Dr. Gadisa Anbese told ENA that 10 of the health facilities are constructed with the budget allocated by the ministry of health while the regional health bureau covered the cost for construction of the remaining 16 facilities.

Dr. Gadisa said each of the facilities will give service to 5,000 people upon going operational in the coming Ethiopian year.

There are 78 health stations including the present ones in the zone.

Meanwhile, construction of Robe and Dello Menna rural hospitals launched at a cost of over 35 million Birr two years before is well in progress, he said.

Ethiopia - 800 million various tree seedlings readied for transplantation in Tigray

ENA - Some 800 million various tree seedlings are prepared for transplantation during the main rainy season in Ethiopia's Tigray Region , regional youth and sports bureau said.

Bureau head, Hesh Lemma told ENA on Sunday that youth, students of higher learning institutions and the public in the region will transplant the seedlings.

The head said the necessary preparation is underway to transplant the seedlings during the coming two months.

He said more than 180,000 youth and students of higher learning institutions will take part in the seedling transplantation activity.

Ethiopia - 36 million Birr worth alley inaugurated in Mekelle

ENA- An 8-km alley constructed in Mekelle Town, Tigray State at a cost of 36 million Birr was inaugurated on Sunday.

State chief, Tsegay Berhe on the occasion said construction of the alley created jobs for a number of unemployed citizens.

Tsegay said the alley is constructed at low cost .

Town mayor, Fiseha Zeryihun on his part said nearly 6,000 people organized in 60 associations took part in the construction of the alley.

Ethiopia, Cape Verde on target to meet U.N. anti-poverty goals

ENA - Ethiopia and Cape Verde are the only African countries on target to meet U.N. anti-poverty goals because poor nations have not received support promised by richer ones, a U.N. development chief told Reuters.

U.N. Millennium Development Goals to reduce poverty were agreed at a United Nations summit in 2000 and set African and other poor countries targets to raise living standards by 2015, according to the report.

Africa has made least progress in meeting those goals, U.N. Development Program Administrator Helen Clark said, and only 3 billion US dollar of the 25 billion US dollar that G8 nations pledged for Africa by 2010 in 2005 had so far reached countries it was earmarked for.

"Many countries in Africa are falling behind target to achieve the goals," said Clark. "But this is mainly because they did not get the support they require from the international community, whether that be in policy or funding."

Clark, a former New Zealand Prime Minister, is on her first foreign tour as the program's head and has visited Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia.

"I've made my very first focus Africa," she said in an interview late on Friday. "This is the region where progress on the millennium development goals has been the least."

However, the United Nations Development Program's 5 billion US dollar budget for this year will not be targeted by donors looking to save money during the global economic crisis, Clark said.

"Africa contributed least to the coming of the crisis but it has ended up getting the worst impact of it," said Clark, adding that a reduction in export earnings, remittances and foreign direct investment had hit the continent hard.

Africa was thought to be largely insulated against the worst effects of the global economic crisis but has recently seen healthy growth projections slashed due to the crisis.

Clark also said that agriculture still represented the continent's best hope to pull itself from poverty.

"If there is one thing that has to come into focus now in poverty reduction, it is agriculture," she said. "And I don't just mean investment in commercial agriculture. We need to see smallholder farmers getting a fair price for their produce too."

Clark echoed calls from Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who represented Africa at April's G20 summit of rich nations, that rich nations should not cut foreign aid during the crisis and must stop attaching economic policy conditions to it.

Rich countries should also provide finance to poorer countries to help them avoid increasing carbon emissions as they developed, she said.

The United Nations contributes about 21 percent of the world's roughly 100 billion US dollar annual development aid.