IGAD calls for end to Ethiopia-Eritrean hostilities

IGAD calls for end to Ethiopia-Eritrean hostilities

Nairobi, Kenya, 03/24 - The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) summit convening in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Monday has appealed to Eritrea and Ethiopia to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue to defuse tension along their common border.

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, who formally took over as chair of the sub- regional body, said Asmara and Addis Ababa have a "window of opportunity" to resolve the simmering tensions amicably.

"We, therefore, urge both sides to adhere to the December 2000 Algiers Peace Agreement and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Kenya strongly believes that dialogue is the only effective way of easing tensions," Kibaki said.

The two warring sides announced recently at a meeting convened in London that they would respect the ruling of the UN border mediation team but relapsed into fighting, with Ethiopia accusing Eritrea of attacking her internal democracy.

The fierce exchange of words between the two sides erupted early last week when Ethiopia claimed grenades used in a series of attacks in the capital, Addis Ababa, were smuggled in from Eritrea.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who attended the IGAD summit in Nairobi, could not be reached for comment on what steps his administration would take to consolidate peace between the two sides.

"Dialogue is the only effective way of easing tensions as the first step towards the peaceful settlement of cross border disputes," Kibaki said.

Source: AngolaPress (excluding the photo)