ETHIOPIA has denied accusations by Somalia that it was involved in clashes in southern Somalia last week between supporters of the Mogadishu government and militiamen opposed to its rule. “(This is) mere fabrication,” a senior Ethiopian foreign ministry official told national television late on Friday. Yemane Kidane, the head of the foreign minister’s cabinet, said the accusation by Somalia’s Transitional National Government (TNG) was “a political ploy to distract attention”. Somalia’s transitional government has repeatedly accused Ethiopia of backing armed opposition groups and deploying troops inside Somalia. Addis Ababa has denied the charges. He said his government had recently held separate meetings in the Ethiopian capital with representatives of both warring Somali factions in a bid to promote lasting peace and national reconciliation in the neighbouring country. – AFP