ERITREA: ASMARA: ETHIOPIAN PLANES BOMB AIRPORT

Описание: (6 Jun 1998) English/Nat

Ethiopian warplanes bombed a combined military-civilian airport as well as the outskirts of the Eritrean capital for a second day running on Saturday, escalating a border dispute between the two Horn of Africa nations.

But there were scenes of joy and impromptu celebrations across the capital - Asmara - on Friday when the Eritrean government said it had shot down one Ethiopian MiG fighter-bomber.

But for the foreigners trying to flee, it was a different story.

Several of the Ethiopian bombs struck the civilian part of the airport on Saturday, igniting fires as people were trying to leave the country.

Some of the those who did manage to fly to Frankfurt, in Germany, aboard a U-S chartered plane, spoke of the confusion in Asmara as violence escalates.


A spontaneous outburst of national pride on the streets of the capital - Asmara.

When the news filtered through on Friday that Eritrean government forces had shot down an Ethiopian plane, there were celebrations on almost every street corner.

This was despite the fact that Ethiopian warplanes bombed a combined military-civilian airport as well as the outskirts of the Eritrean capital.

The attacks continued on Saturday as well.

Initial reports said two Ethiopian MiGs had been shot down Friday, but Eritrea later said only one had been hit and the pilot captured.

Even young boys were proud of their country's achievement.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Ready, we are always ready."
SUPER CAPTION: Celebrating youth

Eritrea and Ethiopia, among the world's poorest nations, are at odds over at least six areas along their common border, which was traced by Italy after it conquered Eritrea in 1885.

Eritrea gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, but the border disputes have lingered on.

One volunteer worker boarding a U-S chartered plane at Asmara airport said it was very difficult getting information about what was happening.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The border keeps getting pushed up. War has been declared. I don't know.. a bunch of rumours. You hear bits and pieces."
SUPER CAPTION: Aaron Greenberg, U-S Peace Corps Volunteer

Although this charter flight got away safely on Friday, the following day, several bombs struck the civilian part of the complex, setting off fires as more foreigners were trying to leave the country.

When the charter flight arrived in Germany, the evacuees said they had very little warning that they had to leave.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Some people have come with almost nothing and were evacuated at 10 minutes' notice. So people have, you know, left photographs and things that they valued very highly. But it wasn't - it was on the cards for two days."
SUPER CAPTION: Edward Winter, teacher

Others with young children were terrified as the bombing started.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We were scared. We lived very close to the airport and we hadn't expected anything like that. It was very surprising."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox pop

Many expressed regret that they were forced to leave their jobs and the Eritrean people with whom they lived and worked because of the violence.

Because of the airport attacks, Britain and Germany were having difficulty trying to send aircraft to evacuate their citizens from Eritrea.

But an Italian foreign ministry spokesman said on Saturday that Ethiopia has agreed to stop attacks on the airport for 13 hours so more foreigners can safely get out.

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