Armed forces of Eritrea launch attack on Djibouti
Djibouti, June 11, 2008 (Addis Ababa) - Armed forces of Eritrea, which have been occupying for several months Ras Doumeira, a territory of Djibouti, on Tuesday launched attacks with light and heavy weaponry against the positions of the armed forces of Djibouti, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Djibouti said.

According to a statement the ministry sent to ENA on Wednesday, in the evening of the same day Eritrean forces have once again opened fire on the positions of armed forces of Djibouti.

The statement said the belligerent attitude of the State of Eritrea towards Djibouti leaves no doubt as to the malicious intentions of the government of Eritrea, which, by attacking Djibouti, a peaceful country in peace with all its neighbours, harbours a subversive plan to destabilize Djibouti and, consequently, the entire Horn of Africa region.

It said the diplomatic efforts and the calls to reason made by Djibouti, and the regional and international community through the African Union, the Arab League, the United Nations, as well as the good offices of friendly countries have not succeeded in altering the position of the Eritrean government, which is stubbornly pursuing its acts of aggression towards Djibouti.

The responsibility for this dramatic and regrettable situation falls squarely on the shoulders of the Eritrean Government, which has refused all forms of dialogue since the violation by its armed forces of the territory of Djibouti at Ras Doumeira.

The statement said Djibouti will defend its high interests by all means and firmly condemns this new aggression by Eritrea, which is revealing in its role as an outlaw state.

Djibouti appeals to the international community to bring this country in line and to notify it without any ambiguity its obligation to leave the Djiboutian territory it is occupying, and to cease its acts aimed at destroying peace in the Horn of Africa region, it said.

R--8:10-8:25pm

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Armed forces of Eritrea launch attack on Djibouti
(c) The Ethiopian News Agency
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