Somaliland says it has surrounded 300 Ethiopian rebels; alleges Eritrean links

Somaliland: Up to 300 Ethiopian rebels surrounded

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Authorities in the self-declared republic of Somaliland say their troops have surrounded up to 300 Ethiopian rebels who entered the territory illegally.

Somaliland’s military chief Gen. Elmi Robleh Furur said Tuesday the men were part of Ethiopia’s Ogaden National Liberation Front.

He displayed weapons, military training manuals written in Amharic and Somali, and a wad of Eritrean bank notes allegedly seized from two men who had become separated from the group.

Eritrea has long been accused of financing and supporting rebels in its much larger neighbor, Ethiopia, with whom Somaliland enjoys good relations.

Somaliland has declared itself independent of war-ravaged Somalia in 1991 but is not recognized by any other state.