Eritrea, Sudan going to war?
2002-11-13 15:39
Addis Ababa - Sudan's ambassador to Ethiopia said in remarks published on Wednesday that war could break out between his country and neighbouring Eritrea, whose president he described as "unpredictable".
"When we are dealing with somebody like (Eritrean President) Issaias Afeworki, anything is to be expected," said Ambassador Osman El-Sayed in an interview published in Wednesday's edition of The Reporter, an Ethiopian weekly.
Tensions have been heightened between Sudan and Eritrea since Khartoum accused Asmara of being behind an offensive in early October by rebels in the east of the country, charges Asmara denied.
"We have information that he (Afeworki) has already started making trenches in areas bordering Sudan," said El-Sayed.
"Its definitely an Eritrean aggression against Sudan," he said. "Anyway, our forces are now prepared."
El-Sayed said that Khartoum had already reported the alleged Eritrean "aggression" to the UN Security Council, the regional Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Community of Sahel-Saharan States.
On Tuesday, Sudan's Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail asked Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa to urge Eritrea not to interfere in Sudan's internal affairs.
Mussa is scheduled to meet in Cairo on Thursday with Afeworki, who is on an official visit in Egypt. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA