DATE=5/30/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ETHIOPIA / ERITREA (S)
NUMBER=2-262944
BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS
DATELINE=ADIGRAT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  Ethiopia's army says it has started pulling 
out of western Eritrea, after capturing most of that 
region over the last two weeks.  V-O-A's Scott Stearns 
reports from Adigrat, in Ethiopia.

TEXT:  Ethiopia says its troops are leaving western 
Eritrea, after routing the Eritrean army there, 
advancing more than 100 kilometers in less than a week 
since this offensive began.

Reatreating Eritrean troops tried to regroup at a 
military trading camp, but Ethiopia's air force says 
it chased them into Sudan.  State-run Radio Ethiopia 
says the withdrawal from western Eritrea shows 
Ethiopia does not intend to occupy the country, but is 
instead interested only in reclaiming border territory 
seized by Eritrea when the two countries' war began 
two years ago.

Ethiopia has its land back on the western front, so 
the war there appears to be over.  There is still 
fighting on the southern most front, near Djibouti, 
where Ethiopia says Eritrea must withdraw from the 
areas of Bure and Bada.   (Signed)

NEB/SKS/WTW



30-May-2000 01:54 AM EDT (30-May-2000 0554 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.