WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House announced Sunday that the governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia have accepted a proposal by the United States to immediately halt the use of air strikes in their border war.
Deputy press secretary Joe Lockhart said President Clinton personally talked personally by telephone with the leaders of the two countries Sunday during an Air Force One flight from Los Angeles to Washington.
The press office statement announcing the agreement was issued shortly before the president's plan landed at nearby Air Force Base in suburban Maryland.
The statement said the moratorium against air strikes, as well as threats of air strikes, ``will continue indefinitely or until such time as either party concludes that any prospect for a peace process has come to an end and provides formal advance notice to the U.S. government that it will no longer respect this moratorium.''
The statement thanked Italy, ``whose diplomatic efforts has helped to secure this agreement.''
Italian envoy Rino Serri met with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki late Saturday before flying Sunday to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
``A cessation of air raids is a partial aspect of a cessation of hostilities, and that's what we want,'' said a spokesman for Isaias, Yemane Gebremeskel. There was no comment from the Ethiopians.
Other diplomatic efforts are in the works. Five leaders appointed by the Organization of African Unity plan to begin a mission later in the week. Also, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is trying to arrange a cease-fire, according to Eritrean foreign minister Haile Woldensae.
Although no skirmishes have been reported since Thursday, hundreds have died in tank and artillery battles on three fronts since early May.
Bombing raids have killed at least 48 civilians in northern Ethiopia and four people in attacks on an airport outside the Eritrean capital, Asmara.
BBC
June 14
Ethiopia and Eritrea have agreed to halt any further air strikes on each other's territory while they continue efforts to find a solution to their border conflict.
A statement issued in Washington said the agreement would remain in place until either side felt there were no further prospects for peace.
The border conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea began in May but escalated last week when both sides launched air raids, causing a number of civilian casualties.
The White House statement thanked the Italian government for its diplomatic efforts which had helped to secure the agreement to halt the use of airstrikes. An American diplomatic official said President Clinton had been in telephone contact with the Ethiopian and Eritrean leaders on Sunday night.
There were no reports of hostilities on Sunday, at the three fronts the border - in Zalambesa, Badme, and inland from the strategically important Eritrean port of Assab.
Ethiopia says it has killed or wounded nearly 11,000 Eritrean soldiers - a claim described as greatly exaggerated by diplomatic sources.
Eritrean officials, meanwhile, say Ethiopia has rounded up large numbers of Eritreans ready for expulsion. Ethiopia has denied the charge.
Diplomatic efforts
Earlier, a team of American officials met the Eritrean President, Isayas Aferwerki, after holding talks in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
They said there was willingness on the part of both sides to engage with a third party to find a solution.
The Rwandan Vice-President, Paul Kagame, also met the Eritrean leadership on Friday.
A delegation of four regional leaders - the Presidents of Burkino Faso, Rwanda, Djibouti and Zimbabwe - was due to start mediation efforts this week under the umbrella of the Organisation of African Unity.
Diplomats have expressed concern at the continued build-up of troops by both sides.
Ethiopia has repeated its refusal to enter direct negotiations until Eritrea withdraws its troops from the disputed area.