The Ethiopian large-scale offensive launched today along two axis, the Mereb-Setit and the Alitena-Mereb fronts respectively, is faltering with the regime's forces suffering huge losses.

1. On the Mereb-Setit front, the TPLF has enlisted foreign mercenaries for the helicopter gunships and fighter aircraft that it has employed in violation of the moratorium on air strikes. The regime has resorted to air-support because it has suffered huge losses in the ground attacks that it launched on Saturday and Sunday. At press time, fighting in the Mereb-Setit front has subsided although intermittent shelling continued from afar.

2. Pitched fighting continued to rage at press time on the Alitena-Mereb front. Here again, attacking Ethiopian forces could not move an inch towards Eritrean fixed positions.

After claiming for the past two days that the current large-scale attacks were initiated by Eritrea, the TPLF regime has now been forced to admit--by the weight of incontrovertible evidence--that it is the party which has unleashed the offensives. Ethiopia has also admitted today that it is using fighter planes and helicopter gunships in the fighting.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Asmara, 8 February 1999