- Eritrean authorities say Ethiopian forces successive attacks in a disputed area on the border between the two countries has forced its troops to retaliate with excessive force.
A statement released by the Eritrean ministry of information late Sunday claimed that soldiers from Ethiopia's ruling Tigrai People's Liberation Front (TPLF) had attacked on Friday in the Zalambesa area.
However, the Ethiopian officials denied the claims, saying they are total fabrication aimed at tarnishing the country’s image.
"Ten Ethiopian soldiers were killed and two others were captured including six AK-47 automatic rifles, a machinegun and communication equipment are captured," the statement said.
In an ambush, two Eritrean rebel groups on 01 January claimed killing and wounding 63 Eritrean troops on the Zalanbessa front, the same front Eritrea is saying was attacked.
Reports have said Eritrea which has been on Ethiopia’s neck since the early 1990’s has been backing Somalia rebels to topple the government which the Ethiopian troops fought hard to oust in 2006.
Eritrea has been a menace in the Horn of Africa having been involved in two serious conflicts on border demarcation with its neighbours.
The 1998-2000 border war between Ethiopia and Eritrea killed an estimated 80,000 people.
A UN-backed boundary commission charged with demarcating the border has handed the disputed town of Badme to Eritrea but Addis Ababa has refused to recognise the ruling.
In August The Hague-based Eritrea-Ethiopia Claims Commission ordered Asmara to pay 10 million dollars in damages sustained during the conflict, a decision Asmara has pledged to comply with.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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