Assistant Health Minister Gurracha Galgalo wants the Government to take "immediate military action" to kick Ethiopia's militiamen out of Kenya's Moyale District.

He also asks the Government to provide firearms to residents to ward off regular attacks by the foreigners.

More than 600 families have fled their Moyale constituency homes following invasions on Monday from the other side of the border.

Dr Galgalo accused Addis Ababa of failing to tame its forces, saying they had created deep insecurity in the sprawling district.

"Six villages in my constituency are now desolate as residents have fled their homes and are camping at the Moyale divisional headquarters," he said.

The affected villages are Kiltipe, Uran, Lataka, Uran Dida, Badanota and Kicha.

The MP accused the police and the army of failing to jettison the foreign militiamen, forcing locals to seek refuge in the nearby Waldah refugee camp.

Addressing a news conference at Parliament Buildings, Nairobi, Dr Galgalo appealed to the international community to assist the displaced families.

He said the militiamen were still holding Kenyan administration policeman Dulacha Halakhe they abducted a week ago after ambushing a Government security team at Kiltipe. Eight police officers and two residents were killed in the attack.

Mr Halakhe is allegedly being held at Bokuluboma, about 140 kilometres into Ethiopia.

Dr Galgalo contradicted his Government colleague, Mr Marsden Madoka, and the Ethiopian embassy, who have attributed the attacks to the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF).

According to the Minister of State, the problem could be resolved only if Moyale residents stop hosting OLF activities, while an embassy spokesman, Mr Mengistu Ayalew, said the OLF had instigated the recent disturbances. The Front, a militia outfit, has fought the Addis Ababa regime for more than five years.

The Ethiopian government has been accusing Nairobi of hosting the OLF, whose troops it pursues deep into the Kenyan side, leaving a trail of deaths and loss of property.

But yesterday, the Moyale MP ruled out the OLF factor and put the blame on the Ethiopian government: "It is not true the foreign forces are pursuing the OLF. Why are they attacking Kenyan security officers and our villagers?"

Dr Galgalo accused the army of declining to reinforce the regular and administration police operating in the district. 

"The army battalion has returned to its Moyale base on orders from above at a time when we need them in the villages to help kick out the Ethiopian militiamen. Why?" he posed. He ruled out closing the border.

The assistant minister urged the Ethiopian government to respect its agreements with Kenyans. "There is no way peace will be achieved across the border if our Ethiopian brothers keep abusing the peace pacts we enter with them," he said.

At the same time, Mr Madoka said negotiations were going on to have the soldier released.

The minister said tension was still high along the border, adding that the Government had intensified security in the area. He said army personnel were patrolling the border to keep off the invaders and that the Government was doing its best to stop constant invasions by militiamen.

Mr Madoka was addressing journalists after launching the Gichugu Constituency Aids Control Committee at Kianyaga Stadium, in Kirinyaga District.

Earlier, while addressing the gathering, Mr Madoka said 50 per cent of people aged below 25 years in the country had virus of the killer disease - Aids.

He said Aids was spreading so fast and everyone should exercise self-control.

The minister said that one out of every eight people in central province was HIV positive.

Ms Karua advised the youth to abstain from promiscuity to avoid contracting the virus.

She said that Aids was prevalent in the area and as such the youth must change their social behaviour.