International community welcomes "progress" on ending war

African leaders and members of the international community have welcomed what they consider progress in diplomatic moves to end the Ethiopian-Eritrean war arising out of the OAU Summit meeting in Algiers last week. The antagonists however remain at loggerheads over the interpretation and significance of a seven-point modalities agreement, unanimously accepted by the 35th assembly of OAU heads of state and government.

"We do consider that this (agreement) is one of the achievements of the Algiers summit," said Salim Ahmed Salim, Secretary-General of the OAU, quoted by AP news agency. "We are on the way forward, but that does not mean in any way that our problems are over," he added. The US government also hailed "the initial positive responses" by Eritrea and Ethiopia to the modalities put forward, and said it "hopes this proves to be an important step towards a resolution of this devastating conflict".
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Susan Rice, said "it was notable that the two sides' initial response to this document was a constructive and a positive one" and that while a formal agreement was a long way off, there was "reason to be encouraged at this development".