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Ethiopia defends controversial deal over sea access

Landlocked Ethiopia has defended the deal with the breakaway state of Somaliland to gain access to the sea.

The agreement has caused a diplomatic storm, with Somalia denouncing it as a violation of its sovereignty and vowing to challenge it "by any legal means".

Ethiopia said that other countries had done deals with Somaliland in the past, and it had not "transgressed" any laws.

Somaliland said in an earlier statement that in exchange for sea access, Ethiopia would "formally recognise" it.

Ethiopia has not confirmed this, but said that the deal "includes provisions for the Ethiopian government to make an in-depth assessment towards taking a position regarding the efforts of Somaliland to gain recognition".