Ethiopian govt. accuses Norway of 'destabilizing' region

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ADDIS ABABA (AFP) - Ethiopia on Tuesday justified its decision to expel Norwegian diplomats arguing that Oslo was interfering in its internal affairs and destablising the Horn of Africa.

"The reason for their expulsion is Norway's repeated and widespread interference in destabilising the Horn of Africa, and Ethiopia in particular," Bereket Simon, a top aide to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, told AFP.

"This decision is not sudden, we have repeatedly raised the issue with Norwegian officials. We had warned them to refrain from interfering in our internal affairs," he said.

Norway announced Monday it had been informed by Ethiopia on August 15 that Addis Ababa was "dissatisfied" with Oslo's diplomacy in the region and was demanding the Scandinavian country downscale its embassy staff.

Norwegian Junior Foreign Minister Raymond Johansen told AFP on Monday that Addis Ababa had accused Oslo of favouring its arch-foe Eritrea in regional mediation efforts.(More...)

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MR. OBANG METHO ADDRESSES OGADENIS IN MINNESOTA

"The first step is for all Ethiopians to get to know each other as unique people and as fellow human beings, to acknowledge whatever pain and suffering we might have caused each other and then reconcile....I believe that some of these liberation fronts do not really want to break away, but are doing it because their rights are being rampantly violated and they have been denied countless opportunities that are reserved for those few in power."(More...)

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INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

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PACT COULD END ANONYMOUS BLOGGING IN CHINA

Internet companies including Yahoo and MSN have signed on to new government guidelines on blogging in China. An international press-freedom watchdog says the pact will lead to censoring and silencing of those who post their words on computer Web logs.(More...) - [Click here for audio report]

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Video of the Day

A Trailer of an upcoming Documentary Film about the wonders and mystery of Lalibela Ethiopia. By Addis Art & Culture, L.L.C.in collaboration with Addis Film Production - Ethiopia







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