Eight soldiers from the Ethiopian army who came to train in Israel sought and received political asylum in Eritrea, Ethiopia's enemy, Israel Radio reported Thursday morning.
The eight arrived in Israel some three months ago to receive military training, and fled from their army base in Israel three days ago.
Eritrea's ambassador to Israel Tesfamariam Tekeste told the radio that on Tuesday the soldiers arrived at his house and asked for political asylum.
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| According to Israel Radio the three soldiers are of Eritrean descent and wished to reunite with family living in Ethiopia's enemy country.
The ambassador let them stay at his home and consulted his government, the UN Refugee Agency and the Israeli Foreign Ministry. After consultations Eritrea's government decided to allow the Ethiopian defectors into its territory, because they are of Eritrean decent.
On Wednesday the ambassador leased a private plane and flew the soldiers to Eritrea.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry was surprised by the developments and emphasized that Israel was not involved in any way in the defection.
Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea are tense due to border conflicts. The international community fears that a war between the two nations will break out again. |
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