Eritrean president called Addis Ababa for peace talks

Leaders of the Organization of African Unity countries agreed on Tuesday in Burkina Faso to form a committee for mediation to settle the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

In his address before the African summit, Eritrean President Assiyas Afworki announced his country's readiness to halt all military confrontations with Ethiopia before the commitment of Addis Ababa to take a similar measure.

Afworki called on Ethiopia to hold direct talks with his country to agree upon comprehensive disarmament in the disputed border regions and reach a peaceful solution.

Meanwhile, fighting was renewed yesterday between the Ethiopian and Eritrean forces along the borders between the two countries. Fierce battles broke out in Zalamibia and the neighboring regions.