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| Ethiopian reunited with long-lost daughters in Eritrea after 16 years | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Ethiopian journalist Addisalem Hadigu has met his daughters Asmera and Danait in Eritrea for the first time in 16 years. | |
| He was among many families kept apart by decades of war and conflict between neighbours Ethiopia and Eritrea. | He was among many families kept apart by decades of war and conflict between neighbours Ethiopia and Eritrea. |
| They were reunited in scenes of tearful joy and relief after the first commercial flight between the two nations in 20 years landed in Eritrea's capital, Asmara. | They were reunited in scenes of tearful joy and relief after the first commercial flight between the two nations in 20 years landed in Eritrea's capital, Asmara. |
| "My suffering has ended - I have met my daughters and kissed them, and poured my tears," Addisalem told local media. | |
| His reunion with his daughters, who are not twins as reported earlier, filled him with "so much peace and hope", he added. | |
| The 58-year-old had told BBC Tigrinya last week that he had become separated from his Eritrean wife in 2002 when she crossed the border into Eritrea with their children. | The 58-year-old had told BBC Tigrinya last week that he had become separated from his Eritrean wife in 2002 when she crossed the border into Eritrea with their children. |
| "I was like a dead man walking. My life was without meaning, without taste. The border was closed to Ethiopians, so I could not go after her. I felt like I had died," Addisalem said. | |
| "I used to wish my family had moved to any other country - because it would have been easier to visit them there than to cross the border into Eritrea." | |
| Ethiopian Airlines called the flight to Eritrea - the first since the 1998-2000 border war - the "bird of peace". | Ethiopian Airlines called the flight to Eritrea - the first since the 1998-2000 border war - the "bird of peace". |
| Air and road travel is now opening up between the two nations, after their leaders this month declared the "state of war" over and agreed to restore diplomatic ties. | Air and road travel is now opening up between the two nations, after their leaders this month declared the "state of war" over and agreed to restore diplomatic ties. |
| Photos of families and loved ones reuniting after years of being apart are being shared widely on social media - including by many in the diaspora. | Photos of families and loved ones reuniting after years of being apart are being shared widely on social media - including by many in the diaspora. |
| Passengers on the historic 60-minute flight sang and danced in the aisles and flight attendants handed out roses and served champagne. | Passengers on the historic 60-minute flight sang and danced in the aisles and flight attendants handed out roses and served champagne. |
| More than 450 passengers were on board the aircraft, Ethiopia's privately owned Addis Standard news site reported. | More than 450 passengers were on board the aircraft, Ethiopia's privately owned Addis Standard news site reported. |
| More on Ethiopia-Eritrea thaw: | More on Ethiopia-Eritrea thaw: |
| Demand was so high that a second flight left within 15 minutes, according to AFP news agency. | Demand was so high that a second flight left within 15 minutes, according to AFP news agency. |
| Images: AFP, Reuters and Addisalem Hadigu |