US plan to give weapons to Somalia draws protest

Ethiopia protested strongly to the United States over a US decision to supply arms to Somalia, and said this move was directed against Ethiopia's integrity and independence.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman, reacting to a weekend announcement that the US was supplying arms to Somalia, said that Ethiopia had no reason to invade Somalia - and that his country would have to reexamine its options and take whatever action might be appropriate in light of the area's tension. The US decision to aid to Somalia was confirmed by the US State Department.