Ethiopia denies reports troops in Somalia

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Ethiopia’s government denies reports from Somali residents that it had sent soldiers back into the neighbouring Horn of Africa country, where hardline Islamist rebels (pictured) are battling the government.
Ethiopia invaded in late 2006 to help Somalia’s interim government topple an Islamist movement controlling the capital and much of the south, but withdrew its troops this year, Reuters says.
“This is a totally fabricated story. We have no plans to go into any of Somalia’s territory,” Wahade Belay, spokesman for Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry, told Reuters in Addis Ababa this morning.
Ethiopia yesterday said it was watching events closely but felt the situation was contained within Somalia and that there was no immediate danger that would prompt intervention.