05/06/07 (B398) BBC : Visite surprise de Meles Zenawi, Premier Ministre éthiopien en Somalie. Ethiopia PM in shock Somali trip (En Anglais – Info lectrice)

Meles Zenawi is holding talks with President Abdullahi Yusuf, said Somali
government spokesman Abdi Haji Gobdon.

The presence of thousands of Ethiopian troops in Somalia is unpopular with
many Mogadishu residents.

Despite the defeat of the Islamists, Ethiopian and government troops are often
the target of bombings.

Over the weekend, at least six people died in an attack on the house of the
Somali prime minister.

Three more were killed after Ethiopian and government troops opened fire after
they were grenades were thrown at them.

Anti-Ethiopia alliance

Last month, Ethiopia re-opened its embassy in Mogadishu after a break of 30
years.

Ethiopia and Somalia have fought two bitter wars in the past – the last in
1977.

Somali Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Ahmed and former Deputy Prime Minister
Hussein Aideed have formed an alliance opposed to Ethiopia.

The alliance, which is based in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, was launched
after recent fighting in Mogadishu that killed some 1,600 people.

Ethiopia and the US accuse Eritrea of supporting insurgents opposed to the
transitional government in Mogadishu – a claim Eritrea denies.

Mr Meles says he wants to withdraw his troops from Somalia but only after
they are replaced by African Union peacekeepers.