DATE=6/14/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ETHIOPIA / ERITREA (L UPDATE)
NUMBER=2-263468
BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS
DATELINE=NAIROBI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: There is more fighting in the Horn of Africa,
with Ethiopia's army saying it has pushed farther into
Eritrea. V-O-A East Africa Correspondent Scott
Stearns reports regional mediators are still waiting
to hear from Ethiopia about their latest peace plan.
TEXT: Ethiopia's army says it has retaken the
garrison town of Tesseney, 100 kilometers inside
Eritrea. An Ethiopian government statement said its
attack began at midnight as Ethiopian units continue
to push north into Eritrea along the Sudanese border.
That statement could not be independently verified.
Eritrea Wednesday did confirm fighting on that front,
saying there was also artillery fire along the eastern
front near the Red Sea port of Assab. Ethiopia says
it is less than 40 kilometers from Assab.
Eritrea said Sunday that it inflicted what he called
"staggering losses" on Ethiopian troops at that front,
driving them back to their original positions.
Ethiopia first took Tesseney during last month, then
withdrew in what it said was proof that it did not
intend to occupy Eritrea. Eritrea says it forced the
Ethiopian retreat in heavy fighting. Ethiopia says
Eritrea attacked withdrawing troops.
So Ethiopia stopped its pullout and now appears to
have turned to fight Eritrea's army. Ethiopia says
its attack against Tesseney was based in the town of
Guluj, 50 kilometers south, which Ethiopia says it
recaptured earlier this week. Eritrea Wednesday
confirmed that Ethiopians again control Guluj.
Eritrea has accepted an Organization of African Unity
cease-fire deal calling for a return to pre-war
borders before separate talks on resolving the
dispute. Eritrea had already withdrawn to those
borders during Ethiopia's offensive last month.
Ethiopia says it is still considering the proposal and
will respond to the O-A-U in what a foreign ministry
statement called "the shortest possible time."
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi wants
international guarantees that Eritrea will not attack
again. Chiefly, he is concerned about letting
strategic border areas fall back into the hands of
Eritrea's army. Until international troops are ready
to take over those areas, the prime minister has said
Ethiopian troops will stay.
Eritrea says fighting will never stop as long as
Ethiopian troops remain on Eritrean soil. Eritrea's
Foreign Ministry says Ethiopia's delay in responding
to the O-A-U cease-fire plan is obstructing the peace
process. (Signed)
NEB/SKS/JWH/KBK
14-Jun-2000 07:37 AM LOC (14-Jun-2000 1137 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
