Asmara condemns "obstruction" of peace efforts

A statement from the Eritrean ministry of foreign affairs on Monday condemned what it called the "provocative bombing", coming at a time of intensified peace efforts by the OAU and other concerned parties. In those talks, it claimed, Addis Ababa "continues to obstruct the implementation of the OAU Framework Agreement by stipulating new preconditions". The Ethiopian embassy spokesman responded, in a statement to IRIN on Monday, that Addis Ababa had not changed its position of supporting the OAU framework which, he said, called for Eritrea to withdraw from Ethiopian territory before demilitarisation of the area and peace negotiations. "We are willing to solve this, because it's a costly war, but we still have our dignity", he added.