Ethiopian forces reported still in west Eritrea

Two days after Ethiopia announced the withdrawal of its forces from western Eritrea, Eritrean government officials said on Wednesday the Ethiopians remained in the regional centre of Tesseney and were setting up a “rudimentary administration” there. Refugees arriving in Sudan on Tuesday from the region confirmed that the Ethiopians were in Tesseney, 30 km from the Sudanese border. Diplomatic sources in Asmara said they estimated that Ethiopia had sent about 130,000 troops into western Eritrea. They had begun the withdrawal from Barentu town, which was occupied by two Ethiopian divisions, four days ago.

Barentu was now empty, but regional analysts said they were concerned about the presence of landmines in the town and surrounding areas. They said both sides were believed to have planted land mines before pulling out. Eritrean officials on Tuesday expressed doubts about Ethiopia’s announced withdrawal from the region, saying that Ethiopian troops were not leaving by the route they came in, but penetrating hitherto unoccupied areas - such as Tesseney. Presidential spokesman Yemane Gebremeskel attributed the motive for these movements to “pillage”. “It shows they are looting and deliberately causing difficulties,” he told IRIN.