Eritrea behind bus attack in north Ethiopia – TV

By Tesfa-alem Tekle

April 17, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) – Six Ethiopians admitted carrying out Monday bomb attacks on passengers bus at Humora, atown in north Ethiopia’s Tgray region. They also confessed to being the Eritrean government “agents”, the official TV reported.

In an Interview with state run TV, the “criminals” admitted of caring out the attacks in return of money from the Eritrean government.

The Ethiopian government has often blamed rebel groups backed by Asmara for attacks in the past. Eritrea routinely rejects the charges.
Ethiopia blamed rebels backed by arch-foe Eritrea on Tuesday after two bombs killed three people and wounded more than a dozen in the capital.

They said they were contacted by “Fitsum, an Eritrean colonel to make the attacks for an exchange of 30,000 Birr (3150 USD) each and a company in Eritrea on their name if they successfully accomplish the mission.”

The suspected individuals also were given a mission to damage the power station of Humora town and to attack government officials in the region, the official TV alleged.

On March 13, a bomb attached to a passenger bus, leaving the bus station of Humera town to shire town went off, leaving at least 8 passengers dead and 27 others wounded.

(ST)