Ethiopia ready for “direct” talks

At the summit of the Organisation of African nity (OAU) in Lome, Togo, AFP quoted the prime minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi, as saying his country was ready for direct talks with Eritrea. “For us the war is over,” he said. “We are ready for direct talks.” The two neighbouring countries signed a ceasefire in Algiers last month, formally bringing to an end a two-year border war in which tens of thousands were reportedly killed and many more forced to flee their homes. “So far, the situation on the ground is quiet,” Meles said, adding that Ethiopian forces would remain at their positions in Eritrean territory until a full peace accord is signed. Eritrea has complained since the signing of the agreement that Ethiopian forces occupying western Eritrea have stolen property, including livestock. There have also been complaints, since the signing of the agreement, that the Eritrean government arrested administration officials from Barentu, the regional capital in western Eritrea, accusing them of facilitating the Ethiopian occupation of western towns and villages.