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Eritrea blames Ethiopia for border clash Ethiopia and Eritrea blame each other for border clash
(about 3 hours later)
Eritrea has accused Ethiopia of launching an attack at the countries' heavily-militarised border. Ethiopia and Eritrea have exchanged accusations over who started Sunday's fighting at their disputed border.
Ethiopia has not commented on the reported fighting in the Tsorona area, about half-way along the frontier. Ethiopia's Information Minister Getachew Reda described the clashes in the Tsorona area as "an Eritrean initiative".
Residents on the Ethiopian side of the border reported hearing gunfire and seeing a large movement of troops and artillery towards the border. Earlier, the Eritrean government said that Ethiopia had "unleashed" the attack.
A peace deal in 2000 ended the countries' two-year war but it has not been fully implemented. A peace deal in 2000 ended the countries' two-year war border war but it has not been fully implemented.
Ever since, the countries have been in a state of "neither war nor peace", says the BBC's Ethiopia correspondent Emmanuel Igunza.Ever since, the countries have been in a state of "neither war nor peace", says the BBC's Ethiopia correspondent Emmanuel Igunza.
Eritrea says the tense relations with Ethiopia are why it has national conscription, which can last for decades. Residents on the Ethiopian side of the border reported hearing gunfire and seeing a large movement of troops and artillery towards the frontier on Sunday.
There were reports that clashes continued into Monday morning but neither side has mentioned if there have been any casualties.
Africa Live: BBC news updates
Why so many people try to flee Eritrea
Eritrea celebrates 25 years of independence
What sparked the clashes? Emmanuel Igunza, BBC Ethiopia correspondent:What sparked the clashes? Emmanuel Igunza, BBC Ethiopia correspondent:
It's not clear why the fighting has erupted now as neither country has issued any reasons. It's not clear why the fighting has erupted now.
But in recent months both sides have upped the rhetoric with the latest verbal salvo coming from Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki during celebrations to mark 25 years of the country's independence.But in recent months both sides have upped the rhetoric with the latest verbal salvo coming from Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki during celebrations to mark 25 years of the country's independence.
He accused Ethiopia of being hostile to Eritrea's sovereignty.He accused Ethiopia of being hostile to Eritrea's sovereignty.
Earlier this year, Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said his country was ready to take "proportionate military action against Eritrea" for what he described as "continuous acts of provocation and destabilisation of Ethiopia".Earlier this year, Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said his country was ready to take "proportionate military action against Eritrea" for what he described as "continuous acts of provocation and destabilisation of Ethiopia".
The conflict, over the exact location of the border led to the deaths of an estimated 80,000 people. Eritrea says the tense relations with Ethiopia are why it has national conscription, which can last for decades.
Africa Live: BBC news updates The 1998-2000 conflict, over the exact location of the border led to the deaths of an estimated 80,000 people.
Why so many people try to flee Eritrea Two versions
Eritrea celebrates 25 years of independence Mr Getachew told BBC Focus on Africa radio that the Eritrean action "was met by an overwhelming force".
Ethiopia "unleashed an attack against Eritrea on the Tsorona Central Front. The purpose and ramifications of this attack are not clear," the Eritrean government said in a short statement issued on Sunday night. "Fighting was heavy enough to result in significant damage to Eritrean forces... which will hopefully make it think twice about its dangerous moves," he added.
It does not mention any casualties. In a short statement issued on Sunday night, the Eritrean government said Ethiopia had "unleashed an attack against Eritrea on the Tsorona Central Front. The purpose and ramifications of this attack are not clear."
Timeline - A history of tensionTimeline - A history of tension
Ethiopia's Information Minister Getachew Reda, who is out of the country, told the BBC he was not aware of the fighting.
As part of the Algiers peace agreement signed in 2000 both countries agreed to accept the ruling of an independent boundary commission over the location of the frontier as "final and binding".As part of the Algiers peace agreement signed in 2000 both countries agreed to accept the ruling of an independent boundary commission over the location of the frontier as "final and binding".
But after the commission ruled that the disputed town of Badme, where the conflict began, was in Eritrea, Ethiopia at first refused to agree to the border demarcation and then called for dialogue before it would implement the decision. But after the commission ruled that the disputed town of Badme, where the conflict began, was in Eritrea. Ethiopia at first refused to agree to the border demarcation and then called for dialogue before it would implement the decision.
This was rejected by Eritrea and there has been an impasse ever since, although clashes have been rare.This was rejected by Eritrea and there has been an impasse ever since, although clashes have been rare.