Ethiopia rejects some aspects of peace plan

Ethiopia on Monday expressed dissatisfaction with elements of the OAU-led peace plan to end the war with Eritrea. A foreign ministry statement said the "technical arrangements" to resolve the war did not make it clear whether Eritrea would withdraw from all disputed territory. A framework agreement accepted in principle by both sides in February provided for Eritrea's withdrawal from "Badme and its environs" to territory it held before the war. Ethiopia is now questioning whether Eritrea will "withdraw" from two other fronts at Zalambessa and Bure, news organisations reported. Eritrea responded to Ethiopia's latest statement by describing it as "tantamount to a declaration of war" and a rejection not only of the technical arrangements, but of the entire peace plan. In a statement, the Eritrean foreign ministry warned it may have "no choice but to resort to legitimate acts of self-defence".