Election date set

The National Election Board of Ethiopia has announced that the country's national elections will be held on 14 May, 2000, a report issued by the government spokesperson's office said. The exercise will be for the election of the Councils of the Federal states and the 550 parliamentarians for the House of People's Representatives. So far, 58 parties have registered with the board to take part in the elections whose campaigns are set to begin in December. The country's national elections were last held in May 1995 with the current legislators having been elected for a five-year term.

Government says Oromo rebels "totally annihilated"

The Ethiopian Defence Ministry on Wednesday said it had "totally annihilated" the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) rebels "mobilised to carry out terrorist acts in eastern Ethiopia" from neighbouring Somalia.

Ethiopia radio reported that between 10-16 August, over 300 rebels have been killed and some 180 taken as prisoners. It said the government forces also destroyed the rebels' mercenary and killed one of its leaders Boreda Birru. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) quoted OLF's spokesman in Washington Abiju Geleta as saying the government's claim was just "a wild dream."

Oromo rebels clash in northern Kenyan border

Fighting broke out between OLF rebels and Ethiopian troops in the Taki area of Githeer location in Mandera district northeastern Kenya, Kenya's 'Daily Nation' newspaper reported on Thursday. It said sounds of heavy artillery and bombardment could be heard from Takaba township some 30 km from Taki where the battle raged since Monday. The paper said Kenyan villagers from Taki and Githeer have moved to Takaba town. Residents of the town expressed fear that the fighting could extend to the area, as defeated OLF forces are said to be retreating "towards the township" and are reportedly planting land mines as they do so.

Over 400 Ethiopian troops killed

Meanwhile, a joint opposition force of the OLF, National Ogaden Liberation Front and the Sidama Liberation Front said in a statement on Thursday they had killed some 473 Ethiopian soldiers and wounded 361 others during fierce fighting between 11-14 August in southeastern Ethiopia. The statement further said the team captured over 200 light and heavy weapons from the government troops, Eritrean radio reported.