Dr. Abdul Mejid Hussain’s widow refuses to endorse war with Somalia

Also in the news: Ethiopia Says It Is at War With Somalia, Ethiopia eliminated from East Africa's Cecafa, Tolerating Dissent and Admitting to Mistakes are Signs of Good Leadership: Enset

International: Bush Urges Senate to Confirm Gates as Defense Secretary, Russian agents the poisoners: UK, Ailing Castro Takes Comfort in Chavez Victory and more of today's top stories

-------------------------------
*petition: start dialog, not war
-------------------------------

Qaliti qalkidan Urgent Petition - Sign it!

At least 10,000 signatures needed before the Christmas holiday break

Dr. Abdul Mejid Hussain’s widow refuses to endorse war with Somalia

ETP - Widow of the late Dr. Abdul Mejid Hussain and member of the House of People’s Representatives, W/O Aneb, has refused to support a resolution by the parliament of Ethiopia authorizing war with Somalia. W/O Aneb, has instead abstained from voting on the resolution.

This is highly embarrassing for the government since W/O Aneb is an MP of the somali people democratic party (SPDP), member organization of the ruling party EPRDF. Source say there was a lot of cajoling done to persuade her to change her mind but she was adamant.

Her late husband, Dr. Abdul Mejid Hussein (seen here), was an Ethiopian of Somali dissent who was staunchly opposed to the notion of a "greater Somalia" and had served the government in various high level positions. At the time of his death he was serving as a special envoy to the United Nations.

In 1996 there was an assassination attempt against Dr. Abdul Mejid, then Ethiopian minister of transport and communications. al-Itihaad al-Islamiya, a terrorist organization based in Somalia, had claimed responsibility for the attack.

Recently, the EPRDF has been using the late Dr. Abdul Mejid in its propaganda to push for war against Somalia. The refusal of his widow to endorse the war is seen as a big blow to EPRDF’s public relations campaign.

---------------------------
*ETP would like to acknowledge and commend members of the House of People’s Representatives who had the courage to vote against the war in spite of the veiled threats and bullying by the ruling party

Ethiopia Says It Is at War With Somalia

James Butty, VOA - Ethiopia said its involvement in Somalia is part of self-defense because of what the government called a repeated declaration of jihad on Ethiopia by the Islamists in Somalia

Bereket Simon is advisor to Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. For the first time, he said Ethiopia has declared war on Somalia.

“Technically, we are war with Somalia. Everybody knows it is them who declared jihad on Ethiopia. So technically speaking, we are at war with them based on their declaration of war. Now, we have asserted our rights to defend ourselves,” he said.

Simon rejected suggestion by some that Ethiopia’s war in Somalia was an attempt to divert attention from the country’s economic and political problems.(More...)

Ethiopia eliminated from East Africa's Cecafa

BBC - Hosts and defending champions Ethiopia crashed out of East Africa's Cecafa Cup as they lost 1-0 to Zambia in Tuesday's quarter-finals.

The Chipolopolo will now play Rwanda in Friday's semi-finals, after the Wasps came from a goal down to beat Tanzania 2-1.

Zambia left it very late to seal their victory as Jonas Sakuwaha scored in the 87th minute with the only goal of the game.

Tanzania opened the scoring in the 26th minute of their quarter-final against Rwanda, with a goal from Elias Uzamukunda.

The lead lasted just 15 minutes before Robert Ujenza equalised for Rwanda.

The match-winner came in the 55th minute when Ujenza was brought down in the penalty area and Genot Witkenge stepped up to convert the spot-kick.

Today's Top Stories

-Enset: Tolerating Dissent and Admitting to Mistakes are Signs of Good Leadership
-Bush Urges Senate to Confirm Gates as Defense Secretary
-Russian agents the poisoners: UK spies
-Ailing Castro Takes Comfort in Chavez Victory
-Iran in final stage of nuclear program
-It could be Greater with a road right about here

Somalis rally against U.S. peacekeeping plan

Also in the news: Sheikh Alamoudi's yacht, Isayas A fewerki rebuffs Condoleeza Rice, Somalis rally against U.S. peacekeeping plan, Somalia’s Islamists deny they met with Ethiopian minister, Ruth Negga-a star without a label

International: Aide says Bush plans 'significant changes', Chavez wins in a landslide , Stars face court action over kiss and more of today's top stories

-------------------------------
*petition: start dialog, not war
-------------------------------

Qaliti qalkidan Urgent Petition - Sign it!

At least 10,000 signatures needed before the Christmas holiday break

Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006 - Ethiopian distance legend Haile Gebrselassie crosses the finish line of the Fukuoka International Marathon at Fukuoka. Gebrselassie has added the Fukuoka International marathon title to his collection, nine weeks after setting the year's best time in Berlin. Photo:/AFP

Somalia’s Islamists deny they met with Ethiopian minister

In an effort to put reconciliation between two foes, Somalia’s Union of Islamic Courts and Ethiopian government, Djibouti put its shoulder to the wheel to put the two sides together in the Djibouti capital Djibouti.

Ethiopian state minister of foreign affairs Tekedda Alemu said , while briefing to the press, that there was ongoing effort on the Ethiopian side to negotiate with the Union of Islamic Courts to soothe the tension between Ethiopia and Islamists.

Islamic Courts chair for foreign affairs has told Shabelle that they did not meet with Ethiopian minister. “We demanded that all Ethiopian forces in Somalia should be withdrawn; only then will talks with Ethiopia be possible”, said Adow.(More...)

Sheikh Alamoudi
THE INDIAN OCEAN NEWSLETTER N°1203 - 02/12/2006

The Saudi- Ethiopian magnate Mohamed Hussein Al Alamoudi has had a 34 metre (112 foot) yacht built to sail on Lake Malaren in Sweden. This Custom Line 112’ worth 13 million euros was ordered from the Swedish company Airboats. It has three double cabins, a guest cabin, saloon with bar and Jacuzzi on the upper deck. Al Amoudi also bought a smaller boat, Al Riva, for his daughter. The yacht will be moored at the landing stage at Alamoudi’s property Hackholmssund castle on the banks of Lake Maalaren. He generally goes there by private jet, landing at the nearby airport of Bromma.

Isayas A fewerki rebuffs Condoleeza Rice
THE INDIAN OCEAN NEWSLETTER N°1203 - 02/12/2006

The deputy secretary of State for African Affairs, Jendayi Frazer, confided to the 49th annual convention of the African Studies Association in San Francisco, held from 16 to 19 November, that Condoleeza Rice had twice telephoned Eritrean president Isayas Afewerki and each time his secretary had told her he was too busy to take the call.

Interview with members of THE CITIZENS’CHARTER GROUP

Professor Berhanu Abegaz and Ato Abate Kassa, members of THE CITIZENS’CHARTER GROUP responsible for co-authoring Citizens’ Charter for a Democratic Ethiopia, sat down with the VOA’s Amharic service this week to answer questions concerning the charter. The CITIZENS’CHARTER GROUP is not affiliated with any political party and is comprised of Ethiopians from a variety of ethnic backgrounds

Interview [Part ONE]
Interview [Part TWO]

Read: Citizens’ Charter for a Democratic Ethiopia

Dr. Paulos Milkias on the Somali issue

Dr. Paulos Milkias is a professor of Political Science at Marianopolis College/Concordia University in Montreal, Canada.

Listen to Dr. Paulos’s VOA Interview

Ruth Negga, a star without a label

The half Irish, half Ethiopian Ruth Negga, 23, burst onto the cinema scene as an emotional and promising talent during the 2006 Berlin Film Festival

Ruth Negga, an Irishwoman, is part of this promising generation of European big screen stars. Living in Dublin, Negga, a mixed-race girl with dark, curly hair, took a BA in Acting Studies from Trinity College. She has already garnered critical praise for her work in classical, as well as contemporary, drama.

Talking about the theatre, she says, ‘they pay you like shit and it requires total commitment, mentally, physically and emotionally.’ Born in Addis Ababa, to an Irish mother and an Ethiopian father who she lost in a car accident when she was just seven, she decided not to spend her whole life empty-handed. (More...)

Today's Top Stories

-Somalis rally against U.S. peacekeeping plan
-Aide says Bush plans 'significant changes'
-Chavez wins in a landslide
-Annan reflective as UN term ends
-Stars face court action over kiss

Interview with members of THE CITIZENS’CHARTER GROUP

*Dr. Paulos Milkias on the Somali issue below*

Also in the news: Senator Russ Feingold in Ethiopia, Why we oppose Ethiopia’s EPRDF (ETP editorial), Siye Abrha's sham trial to end soon

International: Feds Warn Of Possible Cyber Attack, Huge Beirut rally demands change, Former Spy's Wife Positive for Radiation, Nigerian President to be a student and more of today's top stories

Qaliti qalkidan Urgent Petition - Sign it!

At least 10,000 signatures needed before the Christmas holiday break

Dr. Paulos Milkias on the Somali issue

Dr. Paulos Milkias is a professor of Political Science at Marianopolis College/Concordia University in Montreal, Canada.

Listen to Dr. Paulos’s VOA Interview

Interview with members of THE CITIZENS’CHARTER GROUP

Professor Berhanu Abegaz and Ato Abate Kassa, members of THE CITIZENS’CHARTER GROUP responsible for co-authoring Citizens’ Charter for a Democratic Ethiopia, sat down with the VOA’s Amharic service this week to answer questions concerning the charter. The CITIZENS’CHARTER GROUP is not affiliated with any political party and is comprised of Ethiopians from a variety of ethnic backgrounds

Interview [Part ONE]
Interview [Part TWO]

Read: Citizens’ Charter for a Democratic Ethiopia

Senator Russ Feingold in Ethiopia

Senator Russ Feingold, incoming chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sub-committee on Africa was in Ethiopia this week. In his meetings with Prime Minister Meles, the senator stressed the importance of solving the Somalia issue peacefully. Later today, he released the following statement from Addis Ababa commemorating world AIDS day.

"This year, on World AIDS Day, we are reminded of the rapidly rising rate of HIV/AIDS and its devastating impact on communities around the world. The global AIDS epidemic has claimed the lives of more than 25 million people, and 40 million people are currently living with HIV. Despite recent advances in HIV/AIDS treatment, more resources must be devoted to addressing the disproportionate impact of AIDS, particularly in the developing world.

Africa has been particularly plagued by devastating HIV/AIDS infection rates. During my travels this week in Kenya and Ethiopia, I heard immense appreciation for the President’s successful PEPFAR program. It has become clear that we can only defeat the epidemic by aggressively pursuing a combination of efforts, including broader access to good and affordable health care, prevention education, and increasing the number of health care workers in impoverished nations. We must work together to address this global epidemic in order to prevent future cases of HIV/AIDS and improve the quality of life and lifespan for those people living with HIV/AIDS."

Why we oppose Ethiopia’s EPRDF - direct response from a Pro-democracy website
Response to an article published on the Sudan tribune by Samuel Teshome, entitled ‘Happy to see opposition websites blocked in Ethiopia

ETP Editorial

Although the Ethiopian Government and its sympathizers consider our site (ETP) - and others like it - enemies, in truth, most of us - for a long time - have been dying to write something good pertaining to the Ethiopian administration. However, the EPRDF led government, so far, has not given us cause to do so. Economic growth, democracy, freedom of speech, are things we one day hope to attribute directly to the government; that is when they become noticeably apparent in Ethiopia. The difference between pro-democracy websites like ETP and others is that we are not willing to garnish the truth with false statistics and exaggerations to make the government look good, when it absolutely deserves no such treatment.

Since the EPRDF’s take over fifteen years ago, few high-rise building have been built in Addis, and several pubs, clubs and luxury hotels have sprung up. Some would have us believe that this equates to economic growth. Nevertheless, in reality, our country is still an example of extreme poverty, we are still beggars unable to support our food needs, and on top of that (Beinqirt La’y Joro Degif) the massive emphasis on ethnicity is leading our country towards an insurmountable abyss. (More...)

UN's Top Somalia Envoy Hopeful Peace Talks Will Resume

The United Nation's envoy to Somalia says Thursday's deadly suicide car bombings near the town of Baidoa, where the country's besieged interim government is based and the only town it controls, have not dampened hopes for the resumption of stalled peace talks between the government and Somali Islamists. VOA Correspondent Alisha Ryu reports from our East Africa Bureau in Nairobi.(More...)

Siye Abrha's sham trial to end soon

The prosecutor in former defense Minister Siye Abrha's corruption trial presented his closing argument yesterday. Observers say that the trial which is at its fifth year is an absolute sham. The defense will present his closing argument next Wednesday. Meles Zenawi put Siye in prison and charged him with corruption after the latter led an internal protest against the prime minister in March 2001. The protestors accused Meles of being soft on Eritrea.(More...)

Today's Tops Stories

-Nigerian President to be a student
-Feds Warn Of Possible Cyber Attack
-Reyes to lead House intelligence committee
-Huge Beirut rally demands change
-Former Spy's Wife Positive for Radiation
-World AIDS Day: The Fight Turns 25
-Sen. Obama, singer Ludacris meet for a chat
-Shops destroy Santas giving "Hitler salute"