28 Afar rebels surrender to Ethiopia – officials

October 25, 2007 (ADDIS ABABA) –The afar region zonal administrator Omar Gogena said -28 rebels, who were taking part in different activities against Ethiopia have given their hands to Ethiopian forces.

In an interview with Sudan Tribune Ali Adar’s district administrator Omar Gogena said “a total of 28 terrorists, who were taking part in different terror activities have surrendered through the efforts of Ethiopian forces at front and members of community in Bure front bordering Eritrea”.

“22 road side bombs, 5 hand grenades and many other weapons at their hand is also captured” the official added.

Bure front security Chief Mohamed Nur in his side said “the terrorists are members of the so called ‘Afar Liberation Front’ which is backed by Eritrean government”.

According to the officials the terrorists have been participating in cross-border terror attacks for the past 7 years.

Among the 28 surrender, Abdela Geda and Hussien Ali Mohamed , who were on the group’s leader ship told Sudan Tribune “ we were ordered by Eritrean officials to make cross-border attacks in and around the Afar region’’ adding “ we were hired by Eritrean government to make attacks on Ethiopian forces , people and infrastructures , since the Etho-Eritrea war broke out.

The small rebel group, considered as terror group by Ethiopian government was behind the kidnapping of Five Britons along with Several Ethiopian drivers and translators in March in the remote desert area of the Afar region where temperature tops 43 degree centigrade.

(ST)