ADDIS ABABA, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia on Friday denied recent allegations by UN humanitarian coordinator in Nairobi, Eric Laroche, over humanitarian aid problems in Somalia.

    "It is inaccurate, and most certainly not helpful, to suggest that responsibility for delays and difficulties in the distribution of humanitarian aid, lies only with either the TFG (Transitional Federal Government of Somalia) or Ethiopian forces in Mogadishu," said Solomon Abebe, Ethiopia's Foreign Ministry spokesman.

    "There remains a need to monitor humanitarian aid to prevent attacks. This is why there are checkpoints on some roads and guards on warehouses. Even so, I would categorically deny that Ethiopian troops have ever prevented UN access to warehouses or harassed and detained staff at checkpoints unnecessarily," Solomon said in a statement.

In a recent statement, Laroche said it has been a struggle to get large shipments of relief goods into the country.

"Certainly, this has been difficult in the last few months, and seizure of a ship by pirates a couple of weeks ago will not help. But Mogadishu seaport is open and fully functional," he said.

    Mogadishu's business community reached an agreement overcharges and administration to allow full operation last week. There are no barriers to food shipments, he added.

    Laroche also said in the statement that the UN has received a couple of threats that its planes would be shot down if they tried to use Mogadishu airport.

    Fierce fighting has resumed in the Somali capital Mogadishu, following UN warnings of a humanitarian disaster. More than 200,000 people have fled their homes since Ethiopian troops helped the TFG oust the Supreme Council of Islamic Courts from Mogadishu in December, according to the UN.