In spite of the heavy losses that it has suffered in the offensive it=20
launched yesterday on the Mereb-Setit front (two brigades put out of action while another two were heavily battered), the Ethiopian army has opened a second round of attacks on the same front at 6:45 a.m. today.

The offensive is accompanied by helicopter gunships.

In accusing Eritrea "for launching the offensive" yesterday, the=20
Ethiopians claimed strangely that the Ertirean objective was to "control and destroy the Ethiopian military at Badme"--strange because Ethiopia had all along been threatening to wage war unless "Eritrea withdraws from occupied Badme."

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Asmara, 7 February, 1999