Ethiopia calls for backing Somalia's transitional government

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said Monday the international community should provide strong support for Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG).

While meeting with Djibouti's Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Meles said strong support should be extended to strengthen the TFG, which has been recognized by the Inter- Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the African Union ( AU), the United Nations and the international community.

He said the international community and the countries in the region should provide unlimited assistance to the TFG to enable it to determine its own fate.

Somalia is currently without a functioning national administration and has been wracked by civil strife since 1991 when the regime led by Muhammad Siyad Barre was toppled.

Presently, Somalia's TFG is based in Baidoa town, 240 km from Mogadishu, which is controlled by the Supreme Council Islamic Courts.

Source: Xinhua