Reuters
17-JUL-98
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, July 17 (Reuters)- Ethiopia called on Friday for the international community to put pressure on its neighbour Eritrea to withdraw its troops and come to the negotiating table.
Almaz Meko, speaker in Ethiopia's parliament, told reporters in South Africa that Ethiopia wanted peace in the Horn of Africa.
``The Ethiopian government urges regional states and the international community to...put pressure on the Eritrean government to withdraw from occupied territories, stop torturing people and give fair treatment to Ethiopian prisoners,'' Meko said.
``Acts by the Eritrean government are a threat to the peace of the region. Under the United Nations charter there are pressures that can be applied,'' she added.
Meko was in Cape Town to attend a conference of women speakers in parliaments around the world.
Eritrea invaded Ethiopia on May 6. The invasion, which followed a smouldering dispute over the two countries' mutual border, has triggered bombing by both sides and claims from both of human rights abuses.
Ethiopia has insisted that Eritrean troops withdraw before negotiations start. Eritrea has indicated a willingness to talk, but not to withdraw.
Meko said Ethiopia was not setting a deadline for the withdrawal of Eritrean forces but said its armed forces were now mobilised and awaiting the signal.
``Until now we have been preparing ourselves. Now we believe we have made enough preparations,'' she said. ``If the government believes it is time to set a deadline, that will be done. Until now that has not been done.''
Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia after a referendum in 1993 following a 30-year guerrilla war that helped oust Ethiopian military ruler Haile Mengistu Mariam.