UN envoy arrives in Eritrea for mediation

The UN special envoy for Africa, Mohamed Sahnoun, arrived in Asmara on Sunday where he will start a new mediation mission between Eritrea and Ethiopia, according to a statements made by the spokesman for Eritrea's presidential office, Yamani Yamiskle.

AFP quoted the Eritrean official as saying that Sahnoun will meet in Asmara with Eritrean Foreign Minister Haile Weldensae and President Assyas Afworki.

Sahnoun will later travel to Ethiopia where he will meet with Ethiopian officials and representatives of the Organisation of African Unity.

Meanwhile, the Ethiopian magazine Reporti said on Sunday that Eritrea recently bought six Mig 21 jets, while the Eritrean spokesman, Yamiskle, denied this report.

Ethiopian and Western observers say that Addis Ababa, which enjoys air force superiority over Eritrea at the present, has become able to launch raids in the depths of the Eritrean territories.

Ethiopia owns 30 Mig 21 and 32 and has bought since the eruption of conflict with Eritrea several Sukhuai jets, and MA 18 and MA 24 helicopters.

The UN special envoy, Sahnoun, made a round at the end of February of mediation between the Ethiopian and Eritrean capitals, but he could not avoid the re-eruption of confrontation between the two countries on a large scale along their 1,000 km border.