ADDIS ABABA, Dec 13, 2006 (AFP) - Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on Wednesday played down a seven-day deadline from powerful Islamists in neighboring Somalia to withdraw his troops or face a major attacks.

A defiant Meles said he would not acquiesce to the ultimatum from the Islamists who have declared holy war on Ethiopian troops in Somalia protecting the weak Somali government and who he accuses of terrorism.

"Forget it," he told reporters when asked about Tuesday's declaration by the Islamists' security chief in which he gave Ethiopia a week to remove its soldiers or face consequences that many fear could lead to all-out war.

"There is nothing new," Meles said. "They have been threatening and fulfiling their threats. Nothing new. They have been acting on the basis of their threats.

"They have been launching offensives against Ethiopia for months now," he said. "They have commited aggression. We don't see any new thing here which requires any new response."

"We are not waiting for anything," Meles said. "We are trying to get this issue resolved peacefully. If it is not resolved peacefully it will be very unfortunate."

In addition to threatening the internationally backed but feeble Somali transitional government, Addis Ababa accuses the Islamists of trying to destabilize mainly Christian Ethiopia, which has a large and potentially restive Muslim minority.

Ethiopia denies having thousands of combat troops in Somalia but acknowledges sending several hundred military advisers and trainers to assist the Somali government.

Berekat Simon, a senior aide to Meles said Wednesday that the Ethiopian forces in Somalia would remain as long as the Somali transitional federal government (TFG) wants them there and warned the Islamists against attacks.

"We have the trainers at the request of the TFG," he said. "As long as the TFG want the trainers, they will stay there."

"Ethiopia supports the TFG, it is an internationaly recognised government," Berekat said. "The TFG reserves its right to defend itself. If the Islamists attack, we'll respond ... in an appropriate manner."

The Islamists, who seized Mogadishu in June and now control most of central and southern Somalia, have been adavancing toward the government base of Baidoa, about 250 kilometers (155 miles) northwest of the capital.

Baidoa is the only major town the government holds and Somali officials have been pleading for assistance since the collapse of peace talks in November.

Many fear war in Somalia could spread through the Horn of Africa, drawing in Ethiopia and its arch-foe Eritrea, which is accused of supporting the Islamists.

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