Contradictory reports of the fighting between Eritrea, Ethiopia

Ethiopia said on Tuesday that more than 3,400 soldiers from Eritrea were killed or wounded on the Western front near Meireb river.

AFP quoted a statement by the office of the spokesman for the Ethiopian government that the Ethiopian forces also destroyed eight tanks and confiscated another one and destroyed anti-aircraft artillery.

The statement indicated that the Eritrean forces which had deployed five contingents on the Western front seek to recapture the Padmi district which was restored back earlier by the Ethiopian forces by the end of February.

On Monday, Addis Ababa asserted that it had deterred two attacks by Eritrea on the Western front, reporting a heavy Eritrean bombardment on the central front.

For its part, Eritrea denied any attacks on the western or central front and viewed these accusations as attempts aimed at justifying the launch of new attacks by the Ethiopian forces.