Addis Ababa suspends releasing Eritrea's war prisoners, denies involvement in fighting in Somalia
Ethiopia has suspended the process of releasing the Eritrean war prisoners it holds as far as Asmara keeps silence towards arresting one of its pilot and 36 troopers, kidnapped by the beginning of the violent war took place in southern Somalia between the forces of the provisional government and cadres allies to the coalition of the war lords.
The director of the office of the Ethiopian foreign ministry Yamani Keidani denied the accusation, considering it as a political scheme by the provisional government in Somalia to divert the attention. He explained:" we do not have troops in Somalia and we did not give any technological nor logistic backing to any of the fighting group in this country." He continued that Ethiopia has no interest to the resumption of confrontation between the two sides, recalling that just recently his country's authorities met with officials representing the two sides in Addis Ababa in order to encourage durable peace and the national reconciliation process.
Meantime, Eritrea and Ethiopia continued exchanging accusations over violation of the cease- fire agreement signed between the two countries in December 2000.
A spokesman for the Eritrean presidency said that Ethiopia is not committed to the peace process, noting that that according to the cease fire agreement the two sides have to free war prisoners unconditionally. The spokesman noted the conditions of Eritrean civilians who live in camps along the borders and can not return back because of the implanted land mines.
On Friday, Ethiopia suspended the release of war prisoners. The Ethiopian foreign ministry said that it has information that there are Ethiopians who are still alive in Eritrea who were earlier arrested in the war. The spokesman stressed the need that Eritrea should inform about the health conditions and the place of arrest of the Pilot and the 36 troopers before any resumption of prisoners exchange with Eritrea.
Worthy mentioning that since the signed cease fire agreement Ethiopia released almost 850 war prisoners out of 2600 it holds. But since March this year it has not released any. For its part Eritrea released 629 out of 1000 and by its turn suspended the released of the Ethiopian prisoners.