The Office of the Prime Minister of the Ethiopian Federal Democratic Republic has said that the recent dismissals from office, carried out in Somali Regional State, were totally unacceptable since they contravened the region's constitution . Mr Berhanu Jembere, head of regional issues at the Prime Minister's Office, in his keynote address today at the Somali Regional State's second extraordinary session, said that after carefully studying the misunderstandings between members of the executive council and the action taken, the Prime Minister's Office has condemned the act.
Mr Berhanu said that since the action was illegal and carried out deliberately to hinder development activities in the region, it was not recognized within the continuing democratic process and hence the regional council should take action against the members of the executive council. He urged council members to investigate thoroughly the illegal dismissals that had taken place and condemned them.
In addition, he said that in order to build jointly the prevailing peace and democracy, much effort is expected from the regional councils. He reiterated that any member of the executive council should abide by the council's resolutions, the Walta Information Centre [news agency] also reported.
_______ Source: Ethiopian TV, Addis Ababa, in Amharic 1730 gmt 10 O