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Unstoppable: Ethiopian soldiers advancing -BBC, May 26

Ethiopian soldiers celebrate in Zalambessa - AP; May 26

Analysis: From Badme to Barentu -- by Abebe Gemetchu, May 25, 2000



Maps:
Northen Ethiopia and Eritrea
(Adi Ugri=Mendefera)

Central and Southern Eritrea
(Tserona, Senafe, Zalanbessa)

Wider view of Central Eritrea
(including Irafayle)

Western Eritrea
(Om Hajer and Sawa)

Note: the maps below are sections of the Eritrean government official map from 1995. The map falsely claims Alitiena, and also illegally incorporates a chunk of the Dallol area as well as a slice of Djibouti. Click here for the Italian military map from 1935 which places Alitiena in Ethiopia (The green line is the Italian-drawn border)


Eritrea conscripts more boys: After getting the young men slaughtered for nothing, Isayas now begins preying on the boys "In Asmara, groups of boys as young as 14 stood huddled on street corners, their rucksacks packed with belongings as they prepared to be taken to fight a war they may already have lost." - Reuters, May 25

More AP Photos: May 26, 2000


A column of Ethiopian soldiers moves through Zalambessa


Ethiopian soldiers make effective use of pack animals in mountainous terrain


Eritrean landmines being cleared

From the archives: "If full-scale war is declared, you know journalists will be working overtime using words such as "stunning", "rout", "lightning-speed" to describe our efforts. You won't see it coming; but after it is come and gone, we will still be standing and saying "Aybelnan Do" (We Told You So) and don't say "Told me what"? – Eritrean writer Sal Younis, Open Letter to Meles Zenawi, June 1998.


May 26 - Eritrean Central Front Has Collapsed: -- Disastrous rout develops as disintegrating Eritrean units retreat north. Celebrations in Addis Abeba and other towns yesterday as people woke up to the news that Zalambessa was liberated.

BREAKING NEWS (11:25 AM Ethiopia Time): -- Senafe has been captured! Another sensational advance as Ethiopian forces move 30 kilometers over hilly terrain, crushing Eritrean resistance along the way. see Government Spokesperson website for details.

Wounded Eritrean Prisoners Being Assisted -AP May 26

BREAKING NEWS #2: -- Reuters has just filed the unbelievable news from Adi Keyh some 20 km north of Senafe, saying that Ethiopian forces have captured this town as well UPDATE 2-Ethiopian troops advance, Eritrea readies riposte This could be a mistake by the reporter, misidentifying the town name. Meanwhile, Alex Last has confirmed his sorry reputation by filing a ridiculous report from Asmara saying that the Eritrean forces have withdrawn in good order to a secret trench line prepared earlier.

Evidence of the rout: "On an abandoned ridge at Bohloo, near the border town of Zalambessa, the remains of fallen soldiers lay scattered. Around the abandoned trenches and bunkers were heavy machine guns and ammunition boxes dumped by the Eritreans as they beat a hasty retreat." - Reuters, May 26.

Other : NPR reported from Adigrat last night and quoted Ethiopian spokesman Haile Kiros as saying several thousand Eritrean soldiers may be trapped near Tserona. Adigrat residents delighted with liberation of Zalambessa.

The Rout: - Last night, the Ethiopian spokesperson has given more details of the fighting: Tsorena is under Ethiopian control while Eritrean forces in the Hazemo plain are being destroyed by the Ethiopian airforce. The Eritreans were routed so badly that they could not even keep the strategic fortress originally built by the Italians known as "Forto." This strongpoint is located in Eritrea just north of Zalambessa and controls access to the northern part of the Zalambessa valley. Eritrean troops have not only lost this point, but they are also being overwhelmed at points along the plateau extending towards Senafe.

Out of touch: The Eritrean command in Asmara is starting to lose touch with reality. They issued a press release talking about repulsing Ethiopian attacks on their new positions along the Alitiena-Mereb line. This line has ceased to exist. The frontline is more than 25 km beyond Alitiena

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