Eritrea – Ethiopia: Fighter jets reportedly manoeuvring over Ethiopian northern town

ADDIS ABABA, Mar 12, 2004 (Sudan Tribune) — The increased fighter jet manoeuvres and exercises in and around Mekele town in northern Ethiopia, is a signal to the escalation of tension along the Ethiopia-Eritrea border, observers have said.

The military exercises, with fighter jets, observed in Mekele town the day before yesterday on Wednesday March 10, had stolen the limelight of activities of residents of the town, the Ethiopian daily newspaper Menelik reported today.

Eritrean forces are on the alert and some 10,000 Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) fighters – Ethiopian opposition– are said to be in Eritrean military training camps.

In addition to the OLF fighters, it is believed that there are some 2,000 Ogaden liberation army members receiving military training in Eritrean military camps, reliable sources said.[passage omitted:

Since the beginning of this year many reports have indicated the escalation of the tension between the two countries.

Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a bloody two-and-a-half-year war, which claimed about 70,000 lives, and was sparked by their contested 1,000-km frontier.

Eritrea has dismissed the idea of dialogue before Ethiopia drops its rejection of the border ruling.