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Ogaden rebels claim army attacked Ethiopia denies ONLF attack claim
(about 4 hours later)
A rebel group in eastern Ethiopia, the Ogaden National Liberation Front, says it has carried out an attack on government troops. The Ethiopian government has denied the rebel Ogaden National Liberation Front's claim to have inflicted heavy losses on government forces.
There is no confirmation of the attack either from the Ethiopian government or from independent sources. An ONLF statement said its forces had killed 140 soldiers during the battle near the eastern town of Wardheer.
An ONLF statement said its forces had killed 140 soldiers during the battle near the town of Wardheer.
It said an unnamed senior Ethiopian official was visiting the area when the ONLF staged its attack.It said an unnamed senior Ethiopian official was visiting the area when the ONLF staged its attack.
The Ethiopian government has denied its forces were attacked, and says the ONLF lacked the strength for such an attack.
Government spokesman Zemedkun Tekle dismissed the ONLF claims.
"I don't believe they have killed even one. I don't think it is true. We believe that ONLF is not in a position to make this kind of attack," he told the AP news agency.
The authorities have barred aid workers and journalists from going to the eastern Ogaden region since the ONLF began a new offensive earlier this year.The authorities have barred aid workers and journalists from going to the eastern Ogaden region since the ONLF began a new offensive earlier this year.
Last week, aid agencies reached an agreement with the government in Addis Ababa to provide emergency supplies for civilians in the region.Last week, aid agencies reached an agreement with the government in Addis Ababa to provide emergency supplies for civilians in the region.
The ONLF was founded in 1984 and is fighting for independence from Ethiopia, complaining of discrimination by the central government against the region's Somali-speaking nomads.The ONLF was founded in 1984 and is fighting for independence from Ethiopia, complaining of discrimination by the central government against the region's Somali-speaking nomads.