DATE=8/12/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ETHIOPIA / ERITREA (L ONLY) (CQ)
NUMBER=2-252779
BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS
DATELINE=NAIROBI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Regional mediators trying to the end the war
between Ethiopia and Eritrea now face a spread of the
conflict to Somalia. V-O-A East Africa Correspondent
Scott Stearns reports Ethiopia says Eritrea is arming
Somali rebels.
TEXT: Ethiopia says Eritrea is trying to open another
front in their border war by backing rebels in
neighboring Somalia. Ethiopia's Defense Ministry says
that in the past week Ethiopian forces killed more
than 300 of those rebels who were trying to slip
across the border from Somalia.
Ethiopia blames Eritrea, saying the ruling party in
Asmara is playing a major role in arming and training
two separatist groups -- the Oromo Liberation Front
and Al-Itihad Al-Islamia. Both operate in Somalia.
The O-L-F wants more autonomy for ethnic Oromo inside
Ethiopia. Al-Itihad Al-Islamia wants Ethiopia's
Ogaden region to rejoin Somalia.
Ethiopia has tried to counter that threat by backing
rival militiamen to clear-out Al-Itihad bases in
Somalia's Upper Juba region. Still, since the start
of its war with Eritrea 15 months ago, Ethiopia has
seen an increase in fighting along its border with
Somalia.
The Ethiopian army says it has killed more than 700
rebels in the past three months. The O-L-F says it
killed 107 government soldiers and wounded 95 during
the past few weeks.
Eritrea says this upsurge in fighting is a result of
the Ethiopian government's inability to deal with
opposition groups, not a result of Eritrean
interference. Eritrea says it is Ethiopia that is
keeping the war going, preparing for more fighting
while stalling a regional peace deal.
The Organization of African Unity plan calls for a
demilitarization of the contested area, which includes
the town of Badame, and the creation of a six-month
peacekeeping force to control the border area. It
halts the expulsions of each other's nationals and
creates an international panel to draw-up a new border
map under United Nations supervision.
After months of delay, Eritrea finally accepted
details of the O-A-U plan. Ethiopia has asked for
some clarification, largely concerning exactly what
areas are in dispute and when troops withdraw.
Eritrea says this delay is what it calls a
"transparent ploy" to block the peace process.
Ethiopia says Eritrea cannot be serious about that
plan while it is supporting rebels in what the defense
ministry calls a campaign to jeopardize the stability
of Ethiopia. (Signed)
NEB/SKS/JWH/WTW
13-Aug-1999 15:08 PM EDT (13-Aug-1999 1908 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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