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I will run as fast as I can, but I cannot say what time is possible,” said Haile Gebrselassie during a press conference for the real, Berlin Marathon, where he will be competing on September 24 alongside 40,000 other runners. The 33-year-old exceptional runner from Ethiopia consciously avoided the words “world record” – he has missed that goal at his three previous attempts at the 42.195 km classic distance.

His Kenyan rival Paul Tergat holds the current world record, which he set winning the real,- BERLIN MARATHON in 2003 with a time of 2:04:55. It is no accident, however, that Haile Gebrselassie has chosen to compete in the race in Berlin. “I know, of course, that Berlin has a flat course upon which very fast times are possible,” the two-time (1996 and 2000) 10,000m Olympic gold medallist stated. He has set 21 world records in his career, the last of which was at the beginning of March with a time of 1:11:37 for the 25 km distance, which, however, has not been officially recognised.

The journey to Berlin was adventurous for Haile Gebrselassie. He had planned on participating in a 10 km race in Sicily on Saturday evening on his way to the German capital, but the 4-time 10,000 m world champion never arrived there. “The problem was that shortly before take-off a rabbit got caught in the engine. After already flying for an hour and forty minutes, the captain decided that we had to turn back and prepared for an emergency landing,” Haile Gebrselassie said, who as a result missed his connecting flight to Italy.

“It is too bad that I was not able to run the 10 km, but it was not decisive for my marathon preparation. And the only really important race for me is the real,- BERLIN MARATHON,” Haile Gebrselassie, said, who travelled to Germany specifically for the press conference. The Ethiopian’s current best time for the marathon is 2:06:20, which he achieved a year ago winning the Amsterdam Marathon. Not including one race as a 15-year-old with a time of 2:48, his other two marathons were run in London: in 2002 he came in third in 2:06:35, and this year he was ninth with a time of 2:09:05. “That was simply not my day in London this year,“ Haile Gebrselassie said, who also stated a year ago in Amsterdam: “I know that I can break the marathon world record – I just don’t know when it will happen.”

“After three races, I now have a better feeling for the marathon,” Haile Gebrselassie said. He will be facing the second-fastest marathon runner of all time in Berlin -- Sammy Korir (Kenya/2:04:56). “That is good for the spectators, for it will be an exciting race—that is less good for me. I hope that Sammy has trained hard, as I will be in top form.”

When questioned about the current doping cases in athletics, Haile Gebrselassie stated: “It is important that the perpetrators are caught so that the clean athletes are protected.” This kind of news is not pretty for the sport, he said, but at the same time it is important to convict those who are cheating.

Haile Gebrselassie, who won his first big title in the 10,000m at the World Championships in Stuttgart in 1993, is giving no thought to ending his career. “As long as I am still the fastest during training, there is no reason to think about quitting. I have not set any date for myself. The 2008 Olympics are definitely part of my plan, however.”

The leader of the Islamic courts that have taken over most of southern Somalia, Shaikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, said any peacekeeping mission in Somalia would fail.

He cited previous peacekeeping missions, indirectly referring to the United States and UN missions in Somalia in the mid-1990s.

At Friday prayers in the capital, Mogadishu, Shaikh Omer Eman Abu Kar, another top leader of the Islamic courts, urged thousands to reject any peacekeeping mission sent to Somalia.

Their statements followed a Thursday meeting of top African military officials in neighbouring Kenya to work out details of a possible peacekeeping mission.

Such a force would be sent under the auspices of the regional Intergovernmental Authority on Development, which mediated the peace talks that led to the formation of Somalia's transitional government two years ago.

Somalia's transitional government in the past has called for peacekeepers to help it establish a hold on the country, with parliament endorsing a security plan drawn up by President Abdullahi Yousuf's government that includes a role for a regional peacekeeping mission.

On Thursday, Kenyan Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula told reporters on the sidelines of the military officials' meeting that such a mission would take time and money and would depend on the political situation in Somalia.

Aweys responded by calling Kenya "an enemy of Islam".

"I had respected the Kenyan government for its neutrality [in Somali affairs], but when I heard what the deputy foreign minister announced, I realised that Kenya is an enemy of Islam," Aweys said on Friday.

ADDIS ABABA : US soldiers joined emergency efforts to assist tens of thousands of Ethiopians hit by devastating flash floods that have killed hundreds across the nation this month.

With rescue operations continuing apace in the flood-ravaged south, where at least 364 people have died in the past week and up to 8,000 are still marooned, US naval engineers began relief work in the inundated east, officials said Saturday.

The troops from the US military base in nearby Djibouti arrived in the town of Dire Dawa, about 500 kilometers (300 miles) east of Addis Ababa where 256 people were killed and more than 6,000 left homeless in floods on August 6.

A team of 35 so-called "Seabees" brought with them 52 large tents to house many of the displaced, and equipment to construct sanitation facilities amid growing fears of the spread of water-borne disease among the survivors.

The Djibouti-based Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa said its initial aid was worth 900,000 dollars (700,000 euros) but stressed it was ready to increase its assistance and expand work to other areas.

"CJTF-HOA is poised to provide additional relief assistance at the request of the Ethiopian government," it said in a statement.

Dire Dawa and its environs were the first to be struck by a series of fatal flash floods in the east, north and south of the impoverished country, spawned by unusually heavy seasonal rains that caused rivers to burst their banks.

Heavy downpours continue in the Ethiopian highlands, sending water levels higher, and on Friday at least 15,000 people were left homeless in an area between Dire Dawa and capital when the Awash River overflowed, officials said.

In addition to the human deaths and property destruction that has wreaked havoc with farmland, thousands of valuable livestock have been washed away in the east, south and north, where at least six people have been killed.

The confirmed national death toll is hovering at 626, but aid workers and local authorities are bracing for a sharp rise in that figure as hundreds are unaccounted for and many areas remain unreachable.

Some 73,000 people have been affected by the floods, according to the United Nations, but the situation is perhaps most dire in the remote southwest, where more than half of that total live and poor weather is hampering relief work.

Between 5,000 and 8,000 people are still stranded in 14 submerged villages in the Omo River valley, where airborne search and rescue teams have been plucking survivors from roofs and tree tops and dropping food and clean water.

"There are areas that rescuers have not yet reached and we believe the death toll is far higher than what is being said," said Nakia Arkosie, a member of parliament from South Omo, while touring a temporary camp in Sodo.

Major Solomon Gebere Michael, commander of the Ethiopian army's operation in the Southern Nationalities, Nations and People's state, his teams had to rescue another 100 people late Friday but shared concerns the toll would rise.

"People insist the death toll is much higher," he told AFP.

Ethiopia's meteorological agency warned this week that six areas in the north, west and south of the country would likely be affected by unusually heavy seasonal rains before the end of the month.

The rainy season lasts from June to September.

Ethiopia has repeatedly suffered heavy floods and droughts in recent years, devastating agriculture that provides a livelihood for the majority of the 70 million people living in this Horn of Africa nation.

With rescue operations continuing apace in the flood-ravaged south, where at least 364 people have died in the past week and up to 8,000 are still marooned, US naval engineers began relief work in the inundated east, officials said Saturday.

The troops from the US military base in nearby Djibouti arrived in the town of Dire Dawa, about 500 kilometers (300 miles) east of Addis Ababa where 256 people were killed and more than 6,000 left homeless in floods on August 6.

A team of 35 so-called "Seabees" brought with them 52 large tents to house many of the displaced, and equipment to construct sanitation facilities amid growing fears of the spread of water-borne disease among the survivors.

The Djibouti-based Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa said its initial aid was worth 900,000 dollars (700,000 euros) but stressed it was ready to increase its assistance and expand work to other areas.

"CJTF-HOA is poised to provide additional relief assistance at the request of the Ethiopian government," it said in a statement.

Dire Dawa and its environs were the first to be struck by a series of fatal flash floods in the east, north and south of the impoverished country, spawned by unusually heavy seasonal rains that caused rivers to burst their banks.

Heavy downpours continue in the Ethiopian highlands, sending water levels higher, and on Friday at least 15,000 people were left homeless in an area between Dire Dawa and capital when the Awash River overflowed, officials said.

In addition to the human deaths and property destruction that has wreaked havoc with farmland, thousands of valuable livestock have been washed away in the east, south and north, where at least six people have been killed.

The confirmed national death toll is hovering at 626, but aid workers and local authorities are bracing for a sharp rise in that figure as hundreds are unaccounted for and many areas remain unreachable.

Some 73,000 people have been affected by the floods, according to the United Nations, but the situation is perhaps most dire in the remote southwest, where more than half of that total live and poor weather is hampering relief work.

Between 5,000 and 8,000 people are still stranded in 14 submerged villages in the Omo River valley, where airborne search and rescue teams have been plucking survivors from roofs and tree tops and dropping food and clean water.

"There are areas that rescuers have not yet reached and we believe the death toll is far higher than what is being said," said Nakia Arkosie, a member of parliament from South Omo, while touring a temporary camp in Sodo.

Major Solomon Gebere Michael, commander of the Ethiopian army's operation in the Southern Nationalities, Nations and People's state, his teams had to rescue another 100 people late Friday but shared concerns the toll would rise.

"People insist the death toll is much higher," he told AFP.

Ethiopia's meteorological agency warned this week that six areas in the north, west and south of the country would likely be affected by unusually heavy seasonal rains before the end of the month.

The rainy season lasts from June to September.

Ethiopia has repeatedly suffered heavy floods and droughts in recent years, devastating agriculture that provides a livelihood for the majority of the 70 million people living in this Horn of Africa nation.

 

Ethiopian Army soldiers prepare 18 August to bring help to residents.(AFP/File/Abraham Fisseha)

ADDIS ABABA (AFP) - Ethiopia stepped up evacuation warnings in low-lying areas as heavy rains threatened more of the flash floods that have already killed more than 600 people and affected tens of thousands around the country.

Authorities said unusually heavy seasonal downpours in the highlands had raised water levels to a critical level at three dams in the west, south and north and advised nearby residents to leave.

"The Ethiopian Meteorological Agency is asking people who live around the dams to move to higher ground to take precautionary measures, as the rain in the highlands is increasing and dams have water beyond their capacity," it said Monday.

In a statement read on state radio and television, the agency urged civilians to tune in to the state channels for updates on the situation at dams on the Omo, Awash and Blue Nile rivers.

A similar warning was issued on Sunday by a government task force that said the rains might force the controlled release of water from the dams, worsening already devastating flood damage.

The threatened facilities are the Gilgel Gibe dam on the Omo, which has already flooded huge areas in the southwest, the Koka on the Awash River that has flooded in the east, and the Tise Aby on the Blue Nile in the north.

In addition to at least 626 people confirmed dead after floods across the country, some 250 villagers are still missing and around 73,000 are affected, many of them left homeless by the raging waters that have killed thousands of valuable livestock and flooded huge tracts of farmland.

Federal authorities and humanitarian groups are scrambling to deliver supplies to affected people, but driving rains and ruined infrastructure have obstructed efforts to aid the country's flooded areas.

With poor weather continuing to hamper relief efforts, particularly in the southwest Omo River valley where 364 drowned last week and up to 8,000 remain marooned in 14 inundated villages, officials fear a rise in the death toll.

Already overwhelmed authorities have appealed for international aid, and US troops began relief work over the weekend in the town of Dire Dawa, about 500 kilometers (300 miles) east of Addis Ababa, hit by floods on August 6.

The 35 Djibouti-based US naval engineers set up dozens of tents to house many of the some 6,000 people displaced by the waters, which killed 256, and were erecting sanitation facilities amid growing fears of the spread of malaria and water-borne diseases.

Local authorities, who have banned hasty reconstruction across the township, are surveying the area before erecting buildings.

Meteorologists have warned that six areas in the north, west and south of the country will likely face further flood threats from the downpours that are expected to continue until the end of the wet season in September.

Ethiopia, home to some 70 million people, has suffered heavy floods and droughts in recent years, ruining agriculture that provides livelihood for the majority in the Horn of Africa nation.

In the past few years, flooding has affected large areas of eastern and southern Ethiopia, displacing tens of thousands of people and causing damage running into millions of dollars.

Last year at least 200 people were killed and more than 260,000 displaced when heavy rains pounded the region.

Humanitarian workers said low-lying parts of western Somalia, a lawless African nation to the southeast of Ethiopia, had been affected by floodwaters originating from the Ethiopian highlands, but the extent of damage remained unclear.

Authorities said unusually heavy seasonal downpours in the highlands had raised water levels to a critical level at three dams in the west, south and north and advised nearby residents to leave.

"The Ethiopian Meteorological Agency is asking people who live around the dams to move to higher ground to take precautionary measures, as the rain in the highlands is increasing and dams have water beyond their capacity," it said Monday.

In a statement read on state radio and television, the agency urged civilians to tune in to the state channels for updates on the situation at dams on the Omo, Awash and Blue Nile rivers.

A similar warning was issued on Sunday by a government task force that said the rains might force the controlled release of water from the dams, worsening already devastating flood damage.

The threatened facilities are the Gilgel Gibe dam on the Omo, which has already flooded huge areas in the southwest, the Koka on the Awash River that has flooded in the east, and the Tise Aby on the Blue Nile in the north.

In addition to at least 626 people confirmed dead after floods across the country, some 250 villagers are still missing and around 73,000 are affected, many of them left homeless by the raging waters that have killed thousands of valuable livestock and flooded huge tracts of farmland.

Federal authorities and humanitarian groups are scrambling to deliver supplies to affected people, but driving rains and ruined infrastructure have obstructed efforts to aid the country's flooded areas.

With poor weather continuing to hamper relief efforts, particularly in the southwest Omo River valley where 364 drowned last week and up to 8,000 remain marooned in 14 inundated villages, officials fear a rise in the death toll.

Already overwhelmed authorities have appealed for international aid, and US troops began relief work over the weekend in the town of Dire Dawa, about 500 kilometers (300 miles) east of Addis Ababa, hit by floods on August 6.

The 35 Djibouti-based US naval engineers set up dozens of tents to house many of the some 6,000 people displaced by the waters, which killed 256, and were erecting sanitation facilities amid growing fears of the spread of malaria and water-borne diseases.

Local authorities, who have banned hasty reconstruction across the township, are surveying the area before erecting buildings.

Meteorologists have warned that six areas in the north, west and south of the country will likely face further flood threats from the downpours that are expected to continue until the end of the wet season in September.

Ethiopia, home to some 70 million people, has suffered heavy floods and droughts in recent years, ruining agriculture that provides livelihood for the majority in the Horn of Africa nation.

In the past few years, flooding has affected large areas of eastern and southern Ethiopia, displacing tens of thousands of people and causing damage running into millions of dollars.

Last year at least 200 people were killed and more than 260,000 displaced when heavy rains pounded the region.

Humanitarian workers said low-lying parts of western Somalia, a lawless African nation to the southeast of Ethiopia, had been affected by floodwaters originating from the Ethiopian highlands, but the extent of damage remained unclear.

  Ethiopian troops are approaching the Somali town of Baidoa, seat of Somalia's transitional government.

Ethiopia is the Somali government's main ally against the Islamic militia who control the capital, Mogadishu.

The Somali government has meanwhile declared support for an Eritrean rebel group, accusing Eritrea's government of supporting the Somali Islamists.

Regional rivals Ethiopia and Eritrea have both denied accusations that they are fighting a proxy war in Somalia.

Ethiopia has however said it would intervene if Baidoa came under attack.

The Ethiopian troops entered Somalia at the border town of Dolow about 0400 local time (0100 GMT) on Sunday, the BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan says.

They were later seen with 11 armoured vehicles in the town of Awdinle, 30 km from Baidoa.

A spokesman for the Somali transitional government denied the presence of Ethiopian troops on Somali soil, and said the reports were Islamist propaganda.

Q&A: Islamist advance

In June, militia loyal to the Union of Islamic Courts took control of Mogadishu, which had been divided among rival warlords for 15 years.

In the past month the Islamist militia have moved northwards into central Somalia.

The transitional government, established in 2004, has not managed to extend its control beyond a relatively small area around Baidoa.

Controversy over proposed peace talks with the Islamic courts prompted a political crisis, with mass resignations from the government during July.

The courts have rejected calls for the deployment of a regional peacekeeping force in Somalia, and have refused peace talks with the government as long as Ethiopian troops are in Somalia.

Eritrean rebels

In another development, the Somali government's special envoy to the European Union, Yusuf Mohamed Ismail, and foreign secretary of the rebel Eritrean Liberation Front, Yohannes Zeremaria, met in Geneva and pledged co-operation.

"They agreed that co-ordination between the democratic forces in the different countries of the Horn (has) become now an urgent obligation," according to an official Somali statement sent to AFP news agency.

The meeting follows allegations - denied by Asmara - that Eritrea is supplying arms to Islamic militia in Somalia.

Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a costly border war that ended in 2000, but tensions remain high as Ethiopian troops remain in the disputed town of Badme, which international arbitrators awarded to Eritrea.

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