Ethiopian Government spokesperson
May 13, 2000 (9:40 pm local time)
Heroic
Ethiopian Forces Destroy Eight Eritrean Divisions
During heavy fighting today in the vicinity of the Mereb River,
the heroic Ethiopian defense forces
completely destroyed Eritrea's heavily-fortified trenches along with eight divisions
(more than 40,000 soldiers) of the Eritrean army. The trenches being overrun by the
Ethiopian forces stretch between the Tekezie and Mereb Rivers. The Eritrean army is
retreating in disarray as the Ethiopian ground forces pursue them and destroy them as
they flee.
In coordination with the ground forces, the valiant Ethiopian air force repeatedly
penetrated Eritrean
territory. They returned safely from their successful missions, attacking strategic
positions around
Mendefera and between the Mereb and Tekezie Rivers.
During the past two days of fighting, the courageous Ethiopian forces captured
strategic positions
that were previously under the control of the Eritrean army. The captured positions
include Dakonomia,
Bishka, Mailam, Folina, Wehabit, Berkelatsia, Tsibra, Sifa, Binbina, Girme, Shilalo,
Hadamo, Jarbit,
Gojajilai, and Darsenay, among others.
On the heels of these significant and decisive military victories, the Ethiopian forces
are proceeding
to capture more strategic positions.
The Eritrean army sustained heavy material and human losses in the past two days.
Thousands of
soldiers have been killed and wounded and many others have been captured.
In addition to the heavy fighting near the Mereb River, there were also exchanges of
heavy artillery
at the Zalambessa-Egala and Bure fronts.
______________________________________________________________________________________