20100626
africanews

Leaders controlling about half the forces of a separatist rebel group in Ethiopia's Ogaden region have agreed to make peace, the government said on Saturday, but the rebel group denied there had been any deal.

The Ogaden National Liberation Front is fighting to make the predominately ethnic Somali region an independent state and has frequently threatened international oil and gas companies.

"On June 12th a meeting was held in Germany between government representatives and representatives of an Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) faction led by Selahadin Mao," said Abay Tsehaye, national security advisor to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

"They have agreed to abide by the constitution. We have accepted on our part to give amnesty to all their leaders and rank and file members."

The ONLF denied in a statement that there was any agreement.

"The Ethiopian government claim that it had concluded a deal with a large ONLF faction is a self-serving blatant lie intended to mislead the international community," the rebels said.

"The real stance of ONLF will be proven by actions in the political and military battlefields."

Firms including Malaysia's state-owned Petronas and Vancouver-based Africa Oil Corporation are looking for deposits in Ogaden, although commercial amounts of oil and gas have not yet been extracted. Continued...