Battles renewed near Asab port

Ethiopia and Eritrea said on Thursday that fighting erupted once again in the southern desert near the port of Asab which overlooks the red sea while peace talks currently held between the two sides have been stumbled.

News reports said that each side accused the other of being behind the cause of fighting and each side also claimed of inflicting heavy casualties on the other.

A statement by the Eritrea's foreign ministry said that two Ethiopian contingents launched on Wednesday an attack against the left wing of the front but the Eritrean forces repelled the attack and inflicted great losses in the attacking forces.

The Eritrean statement added the Ethiopian forces launched another attack against the same area on Thursday morning but gave no additional details about this attack.

For its part, Ethiopia said the Eritrean forces started its attacks on Tuesday evening.

A military statement said the Ethiopian forces defeated the Eritrean troops with heavy losses inflicted.

The statement added the Eritrean forced resumed on Wednesday its attacks but the Ethiopian forces repelled promptly this " weak attack."