DATE=6/20/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ETHIOPIA - ERITREA (L) (CQ)
NUMBER=2-263081
BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS
DATELINE=ADDIS ABABA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Ethiopia says there has been more fighting in
its border war with Eritrea, despite despite earlier
reports from Addis Ababa that the conflict is over.
V-O-A's Scott Stearns has the story (from the
Ethiopian capital):
TEXT: Ethiopia says Eritrean troops attacked
(Ethiopian positions) on the southernmost Bure front,
near Djibouti. An Ethiopian government statement says
Eritrean troops regrouped after earlier losses on that
front, then moved against Ethiopian troops Wednesday
and Thursday.
The statement says that attack was repulsed. Ethiopia
says Eritrea's army then shelled the town of Rama,
killing two civilians and wounding eight.
None of these reports could be independently
confirmed.
Ethiopia's army continues to hold Eritrean territory
on the Bure front, and the war's central Tsorona
front. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi says he is ready
to withdraw his troops from most of Eritrea, because
he believes the war is now over.
Ethiopia has regained control of territory occupied by
Eritrea when the two countries' war began two years
ago, but the Ethiopian prime minister says his forces
will not withdraw from all of Eritrea until there is a
formal cease-fire. Mr. Meles says security concerns
make it necessary for Ethiopia to hold strategic high
ground near the Eritrean town of Shelalo, and areas
within artillery range of the Ethiopian border town of
Zalambessa.
The prime minister says Ethiopia does not want to stay
in Eritrea. He has told diplomats he would be happier
if foreign troops monitor this strategic high ground.
But if they can not, Mr. Meles says, Ethiopia will
stay and do the job itself, to prevent some areas from
falling into the hands of an Eritrean army that he
says could still threaten Ethiopia.
Ertirea says the war will never end until Ethiopia
withdraws from all undisputed Eritrean territory and
returns to its pre-war borders.
That is the challenge facing Organization of African
Unity proximity talks in Algeria -- the need to come
up with a cease-fire that both guarantees Ethiopian
security and respects Eritrean sovereignty. (Signed)
NEB/SKS/WTW
02-Jun-2000 10:11 AM EDT (02-Jun-2000 1411 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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