Rebels control rural Eritrea

Press, 22 April 1977, Page 6

Rebels control rural Eritrea

NZPA-Reuter Addis Ababa Secessionist guerrillas who have reported the recent capture of several key points in the Ethiopian province of Eritrea now control most of the countryside, according to informed sources in Addis Ababa. The guerrillas are now fighting for the town of Barentu, due west of the provincial capital of Asmara on the road to the Sudanese border, the sources say. They recently captured the border town of Tessnei on that road after heavy fighting in which several hundred Ethiopian troops are rer orted to have been killed. Its loss has left Barentu as th. most westerly town in Ethiopian hands, the sources say. '

Eritrean forces, who belong to several political groups but who appear to co-operate closely in the field, are also said to be sur-

rounding the province’s second largest town, Keren, which is less than 100 km north-west of Asmara on the same road.

About 4000 Ethiopian troops are reported to have been moved into Keren to strengthen its natural fortifications, but all supplies now have to be flown in.

Asmara is said to be calm, but the sources say that most of the countryside is now in the hands of the guerrillas. Analysts in Addis Ababa now see a protracted battle for ■ the remaining towns in Ethiopian hands, the Eritreans taking full advantage of the open support declared by President Nemerv of Sudan at the turn of the year.

On the Ethiopian side, morale and discipline are the main questions hanging over som< 25,000 troops stationed in the province.