Ethiopia closes Somali companies

The Ethiopian police said on Wednesday that it has closed branches for five Somali companies which make financial transfers sent by local citizens from their friends or relatives abroad.

News reports said that among the offices of these companies closed by the police is a branch for al-Barakat company which is the largest Somali sums transfer which the US froze its origins last week under the pretext of fighting terrorism.

However, al- Barakat company which is considered the " rescue cord" for many in Somalia denied these claims and asked to open its records before investigators in order to prove its innocence.