Addis Ababa says war not yet over

Ethiopia on Thursday dismissed Eritrean claims of having withdrawn for tactical reasons, saying its forces had been routed by the Ethiopian army. “As we speak, our defence forces are chasing and destroying the fleeing Eritrean army,” Ethiopian government spokeswoman Selome Tadesse stated. An Ethiopian government statement said air and ground forces had liberated Zala Anbesa “after completely annihilating the Eritrean army that was on the verge of collapsing yesterday.” Tadesse told the BBC that the war would continue until Eritrea withdrew from “every inch of occupied Ethiopian territory”. She said Eritrean forces still occupied Ethiopian territory near Bure, on the eastern front. In Addis Ababa, thousands of people took to the streets to celebrate the country’s taking of Zala Anbesa, news agencies reported.