Ethiopia warns of action against Eritrea
19 March, 2011 | By Aaron Maasho (Reuters)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Ethiopia warned on Saturday it would
take "all measures necessary" against Eritrea, in a rare threat of direct
action against a neighbour it routinely accuses of supporting rebel
groups.
Ethiopia and Eritrea have often traded tough rhetoric since a 1998-
2000 border war killed some 80,000 people, but Ethiopian Prime
Minister Meles Zenawi has up to now ruled out confrontation.
"What we are saying is that we will not sit idle and watch Eritrea
challenge our sovereignty and our development efforts," foreign
ministry spokesman Dina Mufti told Reuters.
Eritrea fiercely denies the charges and accuses Western nations of
siding with Ethiopia over the unresolved border row.
Dina accused Eritrea of attempting to carry out attacks inside Ethiopia
during an African Union summit in February and said Addis Ababa
was asking the international community to pressure Asmara into
"refraining" from such moves.
"If they (international community) don't heed, then we will take all
measures necessary to defend ourselves," he said.
CHANGE POLICIES OR GOVERNMENT
Prime Minister Meles told local media earlier this week that his
administration should "either work towards changing Eritrea's policies
or its government".
"This could be done diplomatically, politically or through other
means," he said.
Eritrean authorities were not immediately available for comment on the
apparent hardening of Ethiopia's stance.
The Red Sea state was part of Ethiopia until 1991 when rebel forces
led by President Isaias Afewerki fought their way to secession
following a 30-year liberation war.
Meles and Isaias were allies when they led separate rebel groups
fighting former Ethiopian dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam, but they
have been foes ever since the border war.
Eritrea is one of the world's most secretive nations. Analysts and
rights groups accuse Isaias of subjecting his opponents to arbitrary
detentions and torture.
Eritrea was also hit with U.N. sanctions in 2009 over charges it
provided funds and weapons to Islamist insurgents in Somalia -- an
accusation it denies.
Courtesy
19 March, 2011 | By Aaron Maasho (Reuters)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Ethiopia warned on Saturday it would
take "all measures necessary" against Eritrea, in a rare threat of direct
action against a neighbour it routinely accuses of supporting rebel
groups.
Ethiopia and Eritrea have often traded tough rhetoric since a 1998-
2000 border war killed some 80,000 people, but Ethiopian Prime
Minister Meles Zenawi has up to now ruled out confrontation.
"What we are saying is that we will not sit idle and watch Eritrea
challenge our sovereignty and our development efforts," foreign
ministry spokesman Dina Mufti told Reuters.
- Ethiopia claims Eritrea
is trying to destabilise
the Horn of African
nation by backing
rebels, while also
supporting Islamist
militants in Somalia.
The Ethiopian
government usually
says it is content to
keep security tight at
Eritrea fiercely denies the charges and accuses Western nations of
siding with Ethiopia over the unresolved border row.
Dina accused Eritrea of attempting to carry out attacks inside Ethiopia
during an African Union summit in February and said Addis Ababa
was asking the international community to pressure Asmara into
"refraining" from such moves.
"If they (international community) don't heed, then we will take all
measures necessary to defend ourselves," he said.
CHANGE POLICIES OR GOVERNMENT
Prime Minister Meles told local media earlier this week that his
administration should "either work towards changing Eritrea's policies
or its government".
"This could be done diplomatically, politically or through other
means," he said.
Eritrean authorities were not immediately available for comment on the
apparent hardening of Ethiopia's stance.
The Red Sea state was part of Ethiopia until 1991 when rebel forces
led by President Isaias Afewerki fought their way to secession
following a 30-year liberation war.
Meles and Isaias were allies when they led separate rebel groups
fighting former Ethiopian dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam, but they
have been foes ever since the border war.
Eritrea is one of the world's most secretive nations. Analysts and
rights groups accuse Isaias of subjecting his opponents to arbitrary
detentions and torture.
Eritrea was also hit with U.N. sanctions in 2009 over charges it
provided funds and weapons to Islamist insurgents in Somalia -- an
accusation it denies.
Courtesy
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