Ethiopia launches counter-attack in Somalia-minister

ADDIS ABABA, Dec 24 (Reuters) Ethiopia launched a counter-attack in Somalia today against rival Somali Islamists, hitting several areas, the Ethiopian Information Minister said.

''After too much patience, the Ethiopian government has taken self-defensive measures and started counter-attacking the aggressive extremist forces of the Islamic Courts and foreign terrorist groups,'' Information Minister Berhan Hailu told Reuters.

REUTERS DKA PM1605