Government spokesperson Ms. Selome Tadesse told reporters in Addis Ababa that nearly 23,000 Eritreans forces had been put out of action and a total of 51 tanks destroyed during the two engagements between 13-16 March and 17-26 March, respectively.

The 17-26 March fighting occurred in the Mereb river area, the western part of the Ethiopian border in the Badme front, while the 13-16 March battle was fought in Zalambessa along the Tsorona front, where Eritrea claimed major victory early this month. "The Eritrean army suffered heavy losses on these two fronts in a futile attempt to regain Badme," she told correspondents.

This was the first lengthy war bulletin to be issued in Addis Ababa in a month detailing Eritrean casualties on the two fronts.

According to the war communique, in the fighting which raged around Mereb river, 13,700 Eritrean forces were killed, wounded or captured. It claimed that over 30 Eritrean trucks were destroyed by Ethiopian air force. Also destroyed during the Mere river battle were 15 tanks, a large ammunitions depot and two batteries of long-range heavy artillery. Four tanks were also captured.

The statement added that during fighting from 13 to 16 March on Zalambessa- Igala front, over 9,000 Eritrean troops were put out of action, 36 tanks were destroyed together with three batteries each containing 4-5 long range heavy artillery.

The statement also claimed that two Eritrea's 'Mig 29' fighter planes were shot down by Ethiopian air force, while hundreds of mortars, anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons and medium range heavy artillery were captured.

According to a government statement made available to AFP, "more than 45,000 enemy troops have been killed, wounded or captured", while "77 tanks have been destroyed and 19 tanks have been captured."

"Hundreds of mortars, anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons and medium range heavy artillery have been captured," said the statement, which gave no figures for losses among Ethiopian ranks.

The Addis Ababa government said that between March 17 and 26, Eritrean troops tried to retake the Badme zone, which was seized back by Ethiopia at the end of February.

In the fighting then, close to the Mereb river on the western front, 13,700 Eritrean soldiers were killed, injured or taken prisoner, according to Addis Ababa.

Eritrea took control of Badme when the war over disputed border territory in the Horn of Africa broke out in May last year.

When Badme was seized back by Ethiopia in February, Eritrean President Issaias Afeworki told the United Nations that Asmara would accept a peace plan drawn up by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).

Since then, however, battles have continued amid differences over interpretation of the plan, which provides for a withdrawal of troops to pre-war positions, the deployment of peacekeepers and independent delineation of the contested frontier.

Addis Ababa also said that on the central front more than 9,000 Eritrean soldiers were killed or injured between March 13 and 16, when "36 enemy tanks were destroyed", together with three batteries each containing four or five long-range heavy artillery pieces.

Five Eritrean divisions in the field suffered "heavy human losses," the statement said.

Asmara had reported that 10,000 Ethiopians had been killed on the central front, but this was denied by Addis Ababa.

After five days of nothing more than a brief communique stating that fighting was continuing around the Mereb river, near Shembeko, the Addis Ababa government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi finally issued its toll for Operation Sunset, the name given to the offensive that led to the recapture of Badme.

Sunday's statement claimed that "22,300 enemy troops were killed, wounded or captured, 26 tanks were destroyed and 15 tanks were captured" in that region, while "hundreds of mortars, anti-aircraft and heavy artillery were captured" and "two Eritrean MiG 29's were shot down by the Ethiopian Air Force."

In the eyes of the Addis Ababa government, "the ego of one man, President Issaias (Afeworki), is the motivation for continued military aggression that is costing the lives of thousands of Eritrean young men and women".

According to two officials of the area, the Badme administration and police force are taking measures to guarantee security while extending every possible assistance to the national defense forces.

Fisseha Gebremedhin, deputy chairman of the Badme administration and Haddish Mekonnen, chief of the local police force said over 1400 compatriots were displaced from Badme town alone due to Asmara's war of aggression.

Issaias troops had robbed the residents of their property, money and farm tools and destroyed health and educational institutions, they said.

They said efforts are underway to take back home the displaced people "this will begin once the landmines planted by the Issaias troops are cleared," the deputy chairman said.

Fisseha said the local administration needs the support of the people and government of Ethiopia to maintain the schools and clinics devastated by the Issaias forces.

He said the local people have made enormous contributions to national defense efforts.

Haddish said for his part policemen are working to guarantee peace and stability in the locality.

One of the compatriots displaced from Badme, Letebirhan Tesfay, expressed her joy over the victory achieved by the Ethiopian defense forces at Badme. "I have named my new born baby boy Ashenafi (literally meaning the victor)."

Another displaced woman, Luala Woldemichael, said she is eagerly awaiting the day when she returns home in Badme (after the landmines are cleared).

Tsegay Berhan, 52,said for her part she was shot and wounded while fleeing Badme during Asmara's invasion of the Ethiopian territory in May last year.

"Another person who was running with me had been shot dead," she said, and expressed her great joy over the liberation of Badme.