By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

November 2, 2011 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Eritrean government has reacted fiercely over media reports on Wednesday that the Red Sea nation has supplied plane loads of weapons to Somalia extremist group al-Shabaab.

The Kenyan government on Wednesday said that arms had been flown into al-Shabaab controlled central and southern Somalia during the past few days including delivery of two plane loads of armaments on Tuesday.

Officials in Kenya did not allege where weapons were coming from but local media outlets in Kenya and Somalia reported that Eritrea was behind the arms supply – an allegation immediately dismissed by the Red Sea nation.

“The government of Eritrea states categorically that these accusations are pure fabrications and outright lies as Eritrea has not sent any arms to Somalia,” Eritrea’s Ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Tuesday’s baseless accusations are the latest product of a misinformation campaign orchestrated to undermine Eritrea and frustrate its constructive regional and international engagement.”

Kenya on Wednesday said that its forces will carry out cross border air strikes against the Somali militia targets to destroy the weapons and bases of al-Shabaab. The defence force warned residents in 10 southern Somali towns to stay away from militant bases.

The decision to confront al-Shabaab in Somalia was taken by Kenya after a spate of kidnappings and killings along the Kenyan coast and in a refugee camp receiving Somali’s fleeing famine and conflict.

Al-Shabab deny involvement in the murders and kidnappings in Kenya.

Eritrea has long been accused of arming al-Shabaab rebels. The country is also accused of continuous interference in the internal affairs of neighboring countries and sponsoring terrorist activities in the Horn of Africa. A UN report recently accused the country of using its embassy in Kenya to bankroll the al-Qaeda-linked Somali rebels.

Eritrea has denied to all allegations in the past, saying it is part of a smear campaign spearhead by Ethiopia. Since Eritrea secede from its larger neighbour relations have been sour, punctuated by a border conflict that, although stagnant, has not been resolved.

The UN Security Council last year imposed sanctions against the Red Sea nation for supporting hard line Islamic insurgents in Somalia which include travel ban and an assets freeze on its leaders alleged to be breaking an arms blockade on Somalia.

(ST)