``The Ethiopian defence forces also destroyed one ZU-23 anti-aircraft weapon and eight tanks during Monday's fighting and captured one other,'' a government spokeswoman said.

Five Eritrean brigades were involved in the fighting near the Mereb river, she added.

The spokeswoman said Eritrea launched a fresh offensive in the disputed border region of Badme early on Monday morning, but Eritrea flatly denied the claims.

Both Ethiopia and Eritrea say they have killed tens of thousands of enemy troops in their border conflict but neither side has listed its own losses.

The war between the Horn of Africa neighbours broke out last May and after an eight-month lull erupted again in February on three fronts.

The regime in Asmara had deployed five Eritrean brigades and incurred those losses, while "Ethiopian defence forces destroyed one ZU-23 anti-aircraft weapon and eight tanks and captured one", according to a statement from the government spokeswoman's office.

"The Eritrean military is seeking to retake Badme with the objective of restoring the wounded pride of President Issaias (Afeworki)," the statement added.

The town of Badme on the disputed border was seized by Eritrean troops when armed clashes broke out in May last year, but taken back when heavy fighting flared up in February after a seven-month lull.

When Badme fell, President Afeworki informed the UN Security Council at the end of February that Eritrea was ready to accept a peace plan drawn up by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).

However, fighting has since continued, together with a propaganda war between Ethiopia and its former province along the Red Sea, which became fully independent in May 1993.

The head of operations and information in Ethiopia's defence ministry, Brigadier-General Abadulla Gemeda, said "the Ethiopian army has beleaguered and weakened enemy garrisons on the Zala Anbesa-Egala (central) front", according to Tuesday's Ethiopian Herald.

Gemeda also stated that "the Ethiopian army has successfully prevented the movement of enemy forces from one war front to another", the government daily added.

The comments were among the first from a top Ethiopian military leader since the conflict resumed in earnest on February 6, apart from television broadcasts by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and rare and brief appearances by Brigadier-General Samoura Yenous, who was involved in the recapture of Badme at the end of last month.

On Monday, Addis Ababa said its troops had driven back two Eritrean offensives on the western front and reported heavy artillery shelling by Asmara's gunners on the central front.

"The regime has recently imposed fines on the Baza inhabitants of several villages in the Gash province. Among others, on the suspicion of collaborating with armed Kunama rebels roaming the area, a fine of 700 Eth. Birr. has been imposed on each family in the village of Kul, Teare, Ashagere and Kerkeshan.. The government measure is meant to cow the people from co-operating with the rebels."

"The area has since been beset with considerable unrest after a number of Kunama tribesmen were unjustifiably and brutally murdered by government security forces at the grain market of Shambuko last year. At the time, neither was any measure taken against those responsible for the crime nor were any serious attempt made to pacify the people by way of compensation. Angered by the government's neglect and inaction, many are said to have later taken to the bush making the area extremely dangerous, particularly to government agents."