DATE=5/23/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ETHIOPIA / ERITREA (S)
NUMBER=2-262677
BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS
DATELINE=ADDIS ABABA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Ethiopia says there is heavy fighting on
the central front of its border war with Eritrea.
As VOA's Scott Stearns reports, a European Union
envoy is in Ethiopia looking for a cease-fire.
TEXT: Ethiopia's government says heavy fighting
started early Tuesday morning along the central
Tsorona front. It is the best-defended, most
heavily fortified front in the two-year border
war. Ethiopia began its latest offensive last
week avoiding the Tsorona front in favor of the
far weaker western front where Ethiopia advanced
more than 100 kilometers inside Eritrea.
It now appears the fight for the war's central
front has begun, with the biggest prize remaining
the Eritrean-occupied town of Zalambesa. It is
not clear if Tuesday's fighting was by Ethiopian
troops across the border in Ethiopia or by
Ethiopian troops continuing to drive inside
Eritrea who captured the town of Maimine late
Sunday. Maimine is ten kilometers inside Eritrea
on a route to the main road south from the
capital, Asmara.
European Union envoy Reno Serri is in Ethiopia
searching for compromise ground to end the
fighting. The Italian diplomat faces an Ethiopian
government mistrustful of the international
community following what it believes are unfair
United Nations sanctions. Mr. Serri has already
met with Eritrea's government. It is not clear
what new proposals he brings to the conflict.
(SIGNED)
NEB/SS/GE
23-May-2000 04:52 AM EDT (23-May-2000 0852 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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