Eritrea FM Accuses US of Backing Ethiopia Over Raids

Rejects War, Urges UN to Act Against Ethiopia

by Jason Ditz, March 16, 2012

Eritrea today rejected the prospect of starting a war with Ethiopia over yesterday’s cross-border raids, saying that it would not be provoked into starting a conflict aimed at distracting from long-standing border disputes.

Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh went on to accuse the US of having backed the raid, saying that it “is patently clear that the Ethiopian regime could not have unleashed such a flagrant act of aggression with such audacity without the protection and succor of the United States in the Security Council.”

Ethiopia insisted the attacks were targeting “subversives” supported by the Eritrean government. They added that they believe Eritrea is “too weak” to retaliate against the strikes.

The Eritrean FM’s statement urged a settlement of the disputed border along the 2002 Hague’s previous ruling. One Eritrean village, Badme, remains occupied by Ethiopia.

“Eritrea urges, for the umpteenth time, the U.N. Security Council to shoulder its legal and moral responsibilities and to take appropriate measures to rectify acts of aggression against Eritrea’s sovereign territories.“

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