Kenyan minister denies reported Ethiopia-Somalia rift

Nairobi- Kenya (PANA) -- Kenyan Foreign Minister Kalonzo Musyoka explained in Nairobi Thursday there was no rift between Ethiopia and Somalia, requiring Kenya's mediation.
A local newspaper had quoted the Minister as saying that Kenya would try to iron out differences between Ethiopia and Somalia, after Mogadishu reportedly accused Addis Ababa of meddling in its affairs.
Musyoka said the report alleging that Somalia and Ethiopia had exchanged bitter words at last week's African Union summit in Maputo was "a gross misrepresentation of facts.
" In a statement from the Foreign Ministry, he explained that Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti were united and committed to a common goal of ensuring the success of on-going Somali National Reconciliation peace talks.
"Kenya remains a neutral facilitator in the peace talks and would steadfastly encourage a lasting agreement to be reached through consensus," he added.