ADDIS ABABA, Aug 7, 2007 (AFP) – Ethiopia’s defence ministry [the Woyanne junta] Tuesday said government troops had killed 200 rebels and captured hundreds in the restive predominantly Somali southern region of Ogaden over the past month.

“Over 200 anti-peace elements have been killed by the military,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that militants had “been destroyed …in a successful operation.”

“All the elements belonged to the ONLF (Ogaden National Liberation Front), OLF (Oromo Liberation Front), and Al-Ittihad,” the ministry said.