(15 Jun 1998) English/Nat

The leaders of Eritrea and Ethiopia have agreed to immediately stop using air strikes in their border war.

A spokesman for the Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday that the U-S-brokered moratorium on air strikes was the first step towards resolving the bitter conflict.

Ethiopia and Eritrea, one-time allies who less than a decade ago were part of the same country, have battled since early May over several stretches of their common border with the loss of hundreds of lives.

At the Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Asmara, a government spokesman welcomed the air strike ban as a first step towards meeting its call for a total halt to hostilities.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well, the government of Eritrea has accepted the proposal of the U-S for a moratorium on air strikes. And we consider this as a positive development as a first step toward ending hostilities between the two countries which the Eritrean government has been calling for from the outset."
SUPER CAPTION: Kahsai, Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman

With news of the air strike ban, between eight and ten-thousand Eritreans gathered to pray for peace at a three-day vigil.

While the agreement does not end the border dispute between the Horn of Africa countries, the White House said it could help restore the mutual confidence necessary for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

But while Eritrea welcomed the air-strike ban as a first step towards a total halt to hostilities, Ethiopia reiterated its demand that Eritrea withdraw from disputed land.

An Ethiopian government spokeswoman said there would be no direct talks or negotiations through third parties before Eritrea withdraws its troops from the disputed land.

Ethiopia and Eritrea, one-time allies who less than a decade ago were part of the same country, have battled since early May over several stretches of their common border with the loss of hundreds of lives.

No skirmishes have been reported since Thursday.

Ethiopia has insisted that Eritrea withdraw its troops from more than a half-dozen disputed areas, the largest being the 160-square-mile (410-square-kilometre) Yirga triangle - before peace talks can begin.

Eritrea has refused, claiming it owns the disputed territory, based on boundaries drawn by Italy when it occupied the country in 1885.

But other diplomatic efforts are in the pipeline.

Five leaders appointed by the Organisation of African Unity planned to begin a mission later in the week.

To avert a full-scale war that could destabilize the region, the African delegation is seeking a plan that would let both Eritrean President Isayas Afewerki and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi back down with honour.

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