DATE=5/29/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ETHIOPIA / ERITREA (L)
NUMBER=2-262925
BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS
DATELINE=ADDIS ABABA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Ethiopia and Eritrea continue fighting as they
prepare for peace talks in Algeria. Correspondent
Scott Stearns reports from Zalambessa.
TEXT: Heavy artillery rocked the hills north of the
border town of Zalambessa. The shelling appeared to
be coming from the direction of Senafe, 24-kilometers
inside Eritrea on the main road to the capital,
Asmara.
Eritrea says it abandoned Senafe in a tactical
retreat. Ethiopia says it took the town in heavy
fighting that continues to the north and west.
Ethiopia says it supports Organization of African
Unity efforts to end the war, but insists it will not
stop fighting until Eritrea withdraws from all
territory occupied at the start of the war two-years
ago.
Eritrea says it is withdrawing from disputed areas in
the interest of peace, but says that does not mean it
is abandoning territorial claims along the border.
Zalambessa was its biggest claim. Once a town of more
than 10-thousand people along a major trading route
between the two countries.
Like Senafe, Eritreans say they withdrew from
Zalambessa. Ethiopians say they over-ran the town,
pushing retreating Eritrean units north toward Senafe.
However Zalambessa changed hands, it is again under
Ethiopian control. Half a dozen soldiers sit in the
shade of a tree off the town's main square. There is
not much left to protect.
Up and down the main street, the fronts of all the
buildings have been destroyed. The supporting pillars
of some shops have been pulled down so the roof sits
flat on the floor. Other storefronts have simply been
bulldozed.
Ethiopia says Eritrean troops systematically destroyed
Zalambessa during their two-year occupation. From the
Mereb Hotel to the pharmacy next door, from the
Welcome Bar to the automobile spare parts shop down
the street, there is not a table, or a chair, or a
light fixture left in Zalambessa.
The only building untouched is the town's light-blue
Orthodox church. Inside, the church is empty; not
even a candle.
While their homes on the outside are dusty brown
stone, Ethiopians and Eritreans often paint the inside
of their houses bright colors. With all their front
walls knocked down, the houses in downtown Zalambessa
look like rows of three-sided stalls painted pink,
yellow, and lime green.
The only movement is Ethiopian army trucks and
helicopters heading for the front around Senafe.
Many of the people who used to live in Zalambessa
spent the past two-years living in caves outside the
town of Adigrat, 30-kilometers farther inside
Ethiopia. People from neighboring towns are already
raising money to help the people of Zalambessa rebuild
their lives. But rebuilding the livelihood of this
border trading post means rebuilding trust between
Ethiopia and Eritrea. Both challenges have a long way
to go. (SIGNED)
NEB/SS/GE/RAE
29-May-2000 08:25 AM EDT (29-May-2000 1225 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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