Somalia/Ethiopia update from CBP (Cannonball Press)

OTTAWA (CBP): Federal NDP leader Jack Layton, responding to reports that Ethiopian troops have entered Somalia in force, stated that this "unprovoked act of aggression" by a Christian state against the Muslims of Somalia could only "add fuel to the rage felt in the Islamic world at the brutal military actions being taken against them by Christian and Jewish countries in places such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine."

Mr Layton also sent a letter to Prime Minister Harper in which he demanded that the Canadian government take the lead in having the United Nations Security Council impose a cease-fire between Ethiopia and Somalia and dispatch a peacekeeping force to the troubled region.

The NDP leader's letter further demanded that the prime minister offer a Canadian contingent for the peakeeping force, along with Canadian contingents for peacekeeping forces in Lebanon and Darfur.

"Canada must return to its traditional peacekeeping role to help stop the senseless violence in the most troubled parts of the world", maintained Mr Layton. He went on to say, "I therefore insist that your government withdraw Canadian troops from our mad support of George Bush's so-called 'War on Terrorism' in Afghanistan and prepare to deploy them to places where they can really make a difference, places where Canadians can once again feel proud of what our peacekeepers are doing."

Interim Liberal Party leader Bill Graham, when asked about Mr Layton's message, said he favoured a "more nuanced approach".

Prime Minister Harper was in Cyprus and not available for comment.

Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe was in Quebec.

When asked for her reaction, Jane Taber of the Globe and Mail reponded:

Red-hot: Jack Layton

Lukewarm: Bill Graham

Chilly: Steve Harper

Mark "Cannonball" C.

Posted by markc at July 21, 2006 10:32 AM