Rebels Claim Battlefield Victory Over Ethiopian Forces In Northwest Bbc Monitoring International Reports March 18, 2008 Tuesday

Text of report by state-owned Eritrean radio on 18 March

The military committee of the Coalition of Ethiopians for Democratic Change [CEDC] has announced that, at least, 114 weyane [Ethiopian government] soldiers were put out of action by a joint attack carried out by the EthiopianPeople’s Patriotic Front [EPPF] and the Southern Ethiopian Peoples’ Front for Equality and Justice[SEPFEJ].

According to the statement, the two forces [EPPF and SEPFEJ], which are organs of the Ethiopian organization [CEDC], attacked the first regiment of the weyane’s 23rd Division deployed in a placed called Shorena in Gublel [bothelements phonetic] area of Humera Zone [in northwestern Ethiopia], killing 46 soldiers of the regime and wounding 65others.

Indicating that a logistics depot of the weyane was also burnt in the attack, the statement said five capturedsoldiers were released after being given necessary advice.

The military committee finally said the cooperation from the residents of Humera area was highly commendable, andexpressed hope that similar cooperation would be accorded to it in future.

The CEDC is an organization established last October by several Ethiopian forces struggling against the incumbent[Prime Minister] Meles Zenawi clique.

Meanwhile, sources from the country [Ethiopia] say rocked by attacks in various parts of the country, the weyaneregime was dismissing, arresting and torturing ethnic Gambela policemen after accusing them of helping oppositiongroups.

Source: Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea, Asmara, in Tigrinya 0400 gmt 18 Mar 08

BBC Monitoring

LOAD-DATE: March 18, 2008