(10 Jun 2000) English/Nat
Ethiopia said on Saturday it had launched a major counteroffensive against Eritrea, hours after its neighbour agreed to a ceasefire.
An Ethiopian government spokeswoman said heavy fighting broke out on the western, central and eastern fronts, as Ethiopian troops responded to Eritrean army provocation.
The action raised doubts over the prospects of success for the peace plan.
APTN has exclusive pictures of fighting along the south-eastern front, close to Eritrea's Red Sea port of Assab.
The port of Assab on the Red Sea in southeast Eritrea - one of the reasons for the latest Eritrean-Ethiopian hostilities.
The port is valuable because it provides access to the sea for landlocked Ethiopia.
Eritrea accused Ethiopia of launching an offensive near the port on June 3.
On Saturday, Ethiopia said it had launched a major counteroffensive on all fronts against Eritrea.
An Ethiopian government spokeswoman said heavy fighting broke out on the western, central and eastern fronts, as Ethiopian troops responded to Eritrean army provocation.
Selome Tadesse, said Ethiopian troops at the Bure front near Eritrea's Red Sea port of Assab had been reinforced, and fighting was continuing there for the third straight day.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The military situation is our enemies, the Ethiopian soldiers, have taken a wide offensive on us using heavy artillery aircraft bombing such as Antonovs, Migs and helicopters."
SUPER CAPTION: Lieutenant Colonel Tekelezghi Musie, Eritrean army
The border war between the two countries has been going on for two years.
The neighbours, among the world's 10 poorest countries, have been battling since 1998 over their disputed 620-mile (1,000-kilometre) border.
The war has cost the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians.
But on Friday Eritrea agreed to Ethiopia's terms for a ceasefire.
Eritrea's U-N ambassador said his country accepted the truce plan during peace talks in Algiers mediated by the Organisation of African Unity.
The agreement includes a cease-fire, stationing of U.N. peacekeepers along contested border areas and outside demarcation of the disputed border.
Ethiopia was expected to respond to Eritrea's decision on Saturday 0900GMT but its offensive raised doubts over the plan's success.
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