afrol News, 4 January - Eritrean authorities say Ethiopian forces successive attacks in a disputed area on the border between the two countries has forced its troops to retaliate with excessive force.

A statement released by the Eritrean ministry of information late Sunday claimed that soldiers from Ethiopia's ruling Tigrai People's Liberation Front (TPLF) had attacked on Friday in the Zalambesa area.

However, the Ethiopian officials denied the claims, saying they are total fabrication aimed at tarnishing the country’s image.

"Ten Ethiopian soldiers were killed and two others were captured including six AK-47 automatic rifles, a machinegun and communication equipment are captured," the statement said.

In an ambush, two Eritrean rebel groups on 01 January claimed killing and wounding 63 Eritrean troops on the Zalanbessa front, the same front Eritrea is saying was attacked.

Reports have said Eritrea which has been on Ethiopia’s neck since the early 1990’s has been backing Somalia rebels to topple the government which the Ethiopian troops fought hard to oust in 2006.

Eritrea has been a menace in the Horn of Africa having been involved in two serious conflicts on border demarcation with its neighbours.

The 1998-2000 border war between Ethiopia and Eritrea killed an estimated 80,000 people.

A UN-backed boundary commission charged with demarcating the border has handed the disputed town of Badme to Eritrea but Addis Ababa has refused to recognise the ruling.

In August The Hague-based Eritrea-Ethiopia Claims Commission ordered Asmara to pay 10 million dollars in damages sustained during the conflict, a decision Asmara has pledged to comply with.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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