Ethiopia seeks mediation with Eritrea

Addis Ababa has asked the international community on Thursday evening to mediate with the Eritrea, as residents in Eritrea accused the latter ( Eritrea) of provoking racism.

A statement released by the Ethiopian foreign ministry explained that the Ethiopian authorities handed the Organization of African Unity a request to take measures to this effect and called on the international community to understand the dangers of the situation and to work accordingly.

The statement said that the Eritrean officials had taken unjustified measures at a time when the two sides signed an agreement to halt the fighting, a matter which is cruel and should be condemned by the international community. The statement also called for facilitating the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian agencies in order to reach, immediately and without obstacles the Ethiopian residents in Eritrea and Ethiopian prisoners of war.

The Eritrea's authorities had officially admitted by the beginning of June the existence of camps for Ethiopian refugees, residents in Eritrea. Official estimates remarked that there are 45,000 - 60,000 Ethiopians living currently in Eritrea. It is presumed that some 3500 Ethiopians residents in Eritrea to be returned back home within few weeks.