Ethiopian - Sudanese reconciliation

Ethiopia ad Sudan agreed to improve relations between them after tensions that began in 1995 when Ethiopia accused Sudan of involvement in an assassination attempt against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Addis Ababa.

The Ethiopian government said yesterday that the talks held in Addis Ababa between Sudanese President Omar Hassan El-Bashir and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi took place in a friendly atmosphere between the two countries.

A statement said that Zenawi agreed on establishing tighter relations after the tough period through which diplomatic relations passed.

President Muabarak was rescued from an assassination attempt when terrorists attacked his motorcade shortly after he arrived at Addis Ababa's airport to attend the summit of the Organization of African Unity in 1995. Egypt and the Organization of African Unity accused Sudan of being involved in the attack, and Ethiopia said, "Sudan tries to shake the stability in the area."