DATE=6/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233640
TITLE=ETHIOPIA / ERITREA FIGHTING (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS
DATELINE=ADDIS ABABA

INTRO: ETHIOPIA SAYS ERITREAN TROOPS HAVE ATTACKED GOVERNMENT POSITIONS NEAR THEIR DISPUTED BORDER. AS V-O-A'S SCOTT STEARNS REPORTS FROM ADDIS ABABA, THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN DISPLACED BY WEEKS OF FIGHTING.

TEXT: ETHIOPIA SAYS ERITREAN TANKS OPENED FIRE AT A GOVERNMENT GARRISON IN THE TOWN OF ERDE MATTIOS WEDNESDAY MORNING. THE ARMY SAYS IT PUSHED THE ERITREANS BACK ACROSS THE TAKEZE RIVER IN HEAVY FIGHTING.

THE BATTLE IS ON THE FRONT NEAR THE TOWNS OF BADAME AND SHERARO, ABOUT 600 KILOMETERS NORTH OF THE ETHIOPIAN CAPITAL. ERITREAN TROOPS INVADED BADAME MAY 12TH, KILLING SEVERAL POLICEMEN AND SPARKING THIS WAR BETWEEN LONG-TINE ALLIES.

ERITREA NOW CONTROLS SEVERAL PARTS OF NORTHERN ETHIOPIA INCLUDING AREAS NEAR THE BORDER TOWN OF ZALLANABASA. MORE THAN 10-THOUSAND PEOPLE WERE EVACUATED FROM ZALLAMBASA BEFORE FIGHTING STARTED THERE LAST WEEK. MOST HAVE RESETTLED TN THE TOWN OF ADIGRAT, 35 KILOMETERS FARTHER SOUTH.

ERITREA SAYS ETHIOPIA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FIGHTING ALONG THE BORDER. ERITREAN PRESIDENT ISAYAS AFEWORKI SAYS HIS TROOPS ARE UNDER ATTACK FROM ETHIOPIAN TANKS AND HEAVY ARTILLERY.

PRESIDENT ISAYAS HAS NOT YET AGREED TO A U-S / RWANDAN PEACE PLAN THAT CALLS FOR ERITREA'S WITHDRAWAL FROM BADAME AHEAD OF TALKS ON THE DISPUTED BORDER. THAT PLAN WOULD ALSO RESTORE THE LOCAL ETHIOPIAN ADMINISTRATION IN BADAME AND INTRODUCE A SMALL OBSERVER FORCE TO SUPERVISE JOINT DEMILITARIZATION OF THE AREA.

THE U-S / RWANDAN PLAN HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY WHICH APPEALED TO BOTH COUNTRIES TO SIMULTANEOUSLY END HOSTILITIES.

INSTEAD, MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY BOTH COUNTRIES ARE CONTINUING TO REINFORCE POSITIONS ALONG A FRONT THAT NOW STRETCHES ABOUT 200 KILOMETERS THROUGH ETHIOPIA'S DRY, ROCKY TIGRAY REGION.

SOME OF THOSE SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN REDEPLOYED FROM THE WESTERN BORDER WITH SUDAN. THERE ALSO ARE TROOPS ALONG THE ERITREAN - ETHIOPIAN BORDER FARTHER SOUTHEAST IN THE DANAKIL DEPRESSION AND ALONG THE ROAD TO THE ERITREAN PORT OF ASAB.

BOTH COUNTRIES SAY THEY WANT A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT TO THE BORDER DISPUTE. SO FAR, NEITHER HAS AGREED TO A CEASEFIRE. (SIGNED)

NEB/SKS/JWH
10-Jun-98 9:46 AM EDT (1346 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America