Boundary news
Eritrea accuses Ethiopia of cross-border attacks
(19 January 2010)
Eritrean foreign affairs minister declared that on 1 January Ethiopia’s troops launched repeated attacks along the common border. According to Eritrean sources, the clashes that occurred in the Zalambesa area resulted in the killing of ten Ethiopian soldiers, the capture of two, and the seizure of weapons and communication equipment.
However, Ethiopian government spokesman, Shimelis Kemal, firmly rejected the accusations and denied any incursion took place at the border. He further stated that these declarations are just an instrument to divert attention from Eritrea’s serious internal problems.
Sources: ‘Eritrea says attacked by Ethiopia’ Agence France Press, 3 January 2010; ‘Eritrea claims to have repelled cross-border attack by Ethiopian troops’ IHS Global Insight Daily Analysis, 5 January 2010.
