Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles
Zenawi has refused to say how many troops were killed or wounded during the
nation's two-year campaign in Somalia.
During a question-and-answer period in the Ethiopian parliament Thursday, an opposition lawmaker asked Mr. Meles to provide casualty numbers from the Somalia conflict.
The prime minister responded by saying it is "unnecessary" for
parliament to have that information, and that he is not obligated to provide
it.
One Member of Parliament, former President Negaso Gidada, told VOA that he found the comments
arrogant.
Tune into the Amharic service
report of the exchange in parliament from Eskinder Firew.
Gidada says that, as representatives of the people, parliament members have a
right to know.
Ethiopia sent troops to Somalia in 2006 to help that country's government
battle Islamist insurgents. The troops fought numerous deadly battles with the
insurgents before Ethiopia brought them home in January.
