afrol News, 24 October - The Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawa has described as "unfounded and baseless" the claims advanced by the rebels of Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) that they had killed hundreds of government soldiers during the weekend clashes.

The ONLF had earlier dispatched a release, claiming to have killed over 250 government troops in two days of clashes.

The eastern separatists fighters also claimed that their attack against a military convoy escorting a top government party official [Abbay Tsehave, Adviser to Meles Zenaw] in Wardheer on Saturday left 140 soldiers dead.

The rebels said Abbay Tsehave was forced to flee aboard a helicopter after they [rebels] surround an entire army.

But Zenawi told the parliament that Abay had wondered him how it was possible to surround an entire army.

Some months back, the Ethiopian government had expelled aid workers in the Ogaden region that lies along the Eritrea border. The Eritrean government is believed to be supporting the Ogaden rebels accused of terrorising and killing of oil workers in April.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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