Ethiopia's PM says only one US strike on Somalia

ADDIS ABABA, Jan 10 (Reuters) Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said today the United States had struck only once in Somalia and denied reports that civilians had been killed in the air attack.

''There was only one strike. That strike was against what they called the target of opportunity,'' Meles told a news conference in Addis Ababa, referring to al Qaeda suspects thought to be in Somalia.

''I believe they did not miss the target.'' Meles said the strike had killed eight militants and five others were captured. He could not confirm rumours that specific al Qaeda members had been killed.

''The remains will be transported for tests, and until this is done, I cannot confirm.'' According to Somali government sources, strikes have continued in Somalia but US officials said the United States had not conducted any since Monday's.

Somali officials said many died in Monday's strike, the first overt U.S. military action in Somalia since a disastrous humanitarian mission ended in 1994.

''Our troops went to the area ... and they have assured me that no civilians were killed,'' Meles said.

US officials said Monday's strike targeted an al Qaeda cell that includes suspects in the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, and a 2002 attack on an Israeli-owned Kenyan hotel.

REUTERS BDP BD2334