Eritrea downs Ethiopian plane

Eritrea said it shot down an Ethiopian warplane on Sunday on the western front on the borders between the two countries.

AFP quoted a statement by the Eritrea's Foreign Ministry on Monday as saying that its forces also destroyed two tanks on Padmi front where battles continue in the surroundings of Merib river near Shembeico. The statement added that fighting continued all last week in Zala Anbisa on the central front.

Last Friday, Eritrea announced that it had seized an Ethiopian helicopter and tanks in Padmi district.

Earlier, Eritrea announced important victories against the Ethiopian army on Tuesday in the central front. It said then it killed about 10,000 Ethiopian soldiers and destroyed military equipment.

On the other hand, Ethiopia denied the said Eritrean statement, adding that fighting only continued on one fighting front.

The spokeswoman for the Ethiopian government, Seloumi Tadisi, said fighting continues on the western Padmi front. The spokeswoman strongly denied reports that heavy losses were inflicted on the Ethiopian troops on Tsourona front.