Ethiopia opens embassy in chaotic Somali capital

MOGADISHU, May 27 (Reuters) Ethiopia opened an embassy in the chaotic Somali capital next to the presidential palace today, the latest sign of the Horn of Africa military power's close ties with a Somali government it wants to sustain.

Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin, a key player Addis Ababa's efforts to bolster the government of Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf, opened the embassy on the third day of his latest visit to Mogadishu.

Seyoum and Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi, whose appointment from obscurity to one of Somalia's top jobs came at Addis Ababa's behest in late 2004, jointly raised Ethiopia's green, yellow and red, flag at the opening ceremony.

''Our peace and stability have been jeopardised by a handful of extremists who profess to be the holy men ... which contradicts the tenets of Islam as peaceful, tolerant and accommodating,'' Seyoum said.

Yusuf was also present as Ethiopian sharpshooters kept watch over the ceremony from nearby rooftops.

Ethiopia's army helped Yusuf's soldiers oust a militant Islamist group from southern Somalia in a quick war over the New Year, clearing the way for the government to return to a capital that had lay beyond its grasp since its formation in 2004.

Both Addis Ababa and Washington say Islamist leaders have ties to al Qaeda, an assessment independent security experts share.

''We hope other neighbours and countries will do the same and open their embassies in Somalia,'' Gedi said. ''The people and government of Ethiopia made the highest sacrifice by their blood to ensure peace in Somalia.'' It is not the first embassy to begin functioning since the government took over the city in the last days of December; Libya and Sudan already had embassies.

GUERRILLA ATTACKS A handful of Islamist fighters have carried out guerrilla attacks against the government and Ethiopian soldiers, and have increasingly adopted Iraq-style attacks like roadside bombs and assassinations in what they say is a holy war, or jihad.

The latest came yesterday, when attackers set of a landmine as the convoy of Mogadishu's deputy mayor passed. A boy was killed but the mayor escaped the fate of his father, who had the same job when he was killed in a similar attack in February.

A UN report says Ethiopian archrival Eritrea is backing the Islamists with weapons, training and money funnelled from other nations, a charges Asmara denies.

The hit-and-run attacks have increased since the government and Ethiopia carried out two armour and artillery offensives in March and April to wipe out Islamist strongholds.

The ensuing battles killed at least 1,300 people and levelled neighbourhoods in the worst fighting in the capital since 1991 -- the year warlords plunged Somalia into anarchy by ousting dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.

Yusuf's administration is the 14th attempt at re-establishing national government since then.

Ethiopia's backing of the government has rejuvenated ancient grudges among Somalis, who are fiercely nationalist and for centuries have viewed their larger Horn of Africa neighbour as a Christian imperialist power.

The embassy is adjacent to the heavily guarded Villa Baidoa presidential compound, which has been hit by insurgent mortar attacks several times.

Reuters SG RS1720