111 rebels killed in Ethiopia

2006-06-27 12:55

Addis Ababa - Ethiopia on Tuesday claimed it had killed more than 110 rebels - sent by arch-foe Horn of Africa neighbour, Eritrea - to destabilise the country since the beginning of the month.

The defence ministry said that Ethiopian security forces had killed 111, wounded 18 and captured 107 "anti-peace forces" operating on Asmara's behalf in northern Ethiopia since early June.

Dawit Assefa of the defence ministry said: "They had dispatched themselves in the area to disturb peace and stability", adding that the rebels had been found around Gonder, about 100km from the Eritran border.

He said: "The anti-peace forces came from Eritrea. They were under orders from Asmara, crossed the border and came into the North Gonder area.

Ethiopia, Eritrea fought a bloody war

Assefa said: "They were armed with machine guns and they planned to attack the Ethiopian defence forces, but the army knew they were around and was able to stop them.

"They are rebels who have the objective to fulfil the mission of the Eritreans, which is to try to disturb peace in Ethiopia."

Assefa was unable to specify the nationality of those killed, wounded or captured.

Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a bloody two-year war over their common border between 1998 and 2000 and a peace deal that ended the conflict had yet to be fully implemented.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi had blamed Eritrea for providing explosive material for a series of mystery blasts that had rocked Addis Ababa and provincial towns since the beginning of the year, killing at least 11 people and wounding dozens.

Eritrea had angrily denied those claims.

- AFP