U.S. no to Somali arms plea

Press, 9 February 1978, Page 6

U.S. no to Somali arms plea

1 NZPA-Reuter Washington ■ The United States has re--1 jected another urgent appeal I for arms by Somalia, and •jhas admonished Israel and i Egypt for arming rival com- ; batants in the war for control of the Ogaden region of [Ethiopia. [ The Somali request for [arms had been conveyed by [the Egyptian President (Mr [Anwar Sadat) during his [talks with President Jimmy [Carter at the week-end. I “The answer is no.” said [ the State Department [spokesman, Mr Hodding CarIter.

[ “We do not think that the [ participation of outside [ Powers or additional materia] is useful for what is ' necessary — which is an lend to the concict.” Mr Sadat disclosed on [Tuesday that Egypt was providing arms to Somalia and ■was . considering sending ! troops as well. Israeli For- ; eign Minister (Mr Moshe ; Dayan) also revealed on [Tuesday that his country [was providing arms for Ethi iopia, which is being heavily ; supplied by the Soviet Union in the Ogaden war. Reports from Western diplomatic sources in Mogadishu. the Somali capital, say that Soviet troopships carrying thousands of Cuban ) reinforcements to Ethiopia are on their way to Ethiopia’s Red Sea port of Assab. Diplomatic sources in Mogadishu estimate that 3000 to 6000 Cubans are on their way to Ethiopia to join the 3000 Cubans and 1500 Russians said by United States intelligence reports to be already there.