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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Djibouti says Eritrea risking war | Djibouti says Eritrea risking war |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Djibouti's president has said his country will have to go to war with Eritrea unless the UN acts to resolve growing tension over a border dispute. | Djibouti's president has said his country will have to go to war with Eritrea unless the UN acts to resolve growing tension over a border dispute. |
| Djibouti has accused Eritrea of invading its territory and its ambassador to the UN told the BBC that Eritrea had been avoiding mediation. | Djibouti has accused Eritrea of invading its territory and its ambassador to the UN told the BBC that Eritrea had been avoiding mediation. |
| But his Eritrean counterpart said Eritrea had no territorial ambitions. | But his Eritrean counterpart said Eritrea had no territorial ambitions. |
| Both France and the US have troops in Djibouti. Its border with Eritrea is at a key strategic point on the Red Sea. | Both France and the US have troops in Djibouti. Its border with Eritrea is at a key strategic point on the Red Sea. |
| Djibouti's President Omah Guelleh appealed on Thursday to the UN Security Council to help resolve the dispute. | Djibouti's President Omah Guelleh appealed on Thursday to the UN Security Council to help resolve the dispute. |
| "Continued inaction in whatever form not only will encourage but will benefit Eritrea's attitude," he said. | "Continued inaction in whatever form not only will encourage but will benefit Eritrea's attitude," he said. |
| "This would only give my country one option, the option of war." | "This would only give my country one option, the option of war." |
| But Eritrean ambassador Araya Desta said his country wanted "the cultivation of good neighbourly relations with Djibouti". | |
| Whatever the Eritrean ambassador has said is hogwash Roble Olhaye Djibouti's ambassador to the UN | |
| "Contrary to the claims made, Eritrea has not taken any land that belongs to Djibouti and it does not have any territorial ambitions," he said. | "Contrary to the claims made, Eritrea has not taken any land that belongs to Djibouti and it does not have any territorial ambitions," he said. |
| Mr Desta instead accused Ethiopia of moving troops to high ground on the border of the three countries. | Mr Desta instead accused Ethiopia of moving troops to high ground on the border of the three countries. |
| "Ethiopia has built from the Djiboutian side a network of winding roads up the mount and deployed offensive long-range artillery and heavy equipment directed at Eritrea," he said. | "Ethiopia has built from the Djiboutian side a network of winding roads up the mount and deployed offensive long-range artillery and heavy equipment directed at Eritrea," he said. |
| Since Eritrea gained independence in 1993, the Horn of Africa country has been involved in two serious conflicts over territory with its neighbours. | Since Eritrea gained independence in 1993, the Horn of Africa country has been involved in two serious conflicts over territory with its neighbours. |
| 'Missions rebuffed' | 'Missions rebuffed' |
| Clashes between Eritrea and Djibouti earlier this year left nine Djiboutian troops dead and 60 injured. | Clashes between Eritrea and Djibouti earlier this year left nine Djiboutian troops dead and 60 injured. |
| In June, the UN Security Council called on Eritrea and Djibouti to agree to a ceasefire, stressing that Eritrea should pull its forces back, the BBC's Laura Trevelyan reports from the United Nations. | |
| France, the former colonial power in Djibouti, is working on presenting a plan to the Security Council reiterating demands for Eritrea to withdraw its forces, she says. | France, the former colonial power in Djibouti, is working on presenting a plan to the Security Council reiterating demands for Eritrea to withdraw its forces, she says. |
| France also wants the two sides to talk to each other about their disputed border. | France also wants the two sides to talk to each other about their disputed border. |
| Djibouti's ambassador to the UN, Roble Olhaye, said Eritrea had "refused or rebuffed all international mediation". | Djibouti's ambassador to the UN, Roble Olhaye, said Eritrea had "refused or rebuffed all international mediation". |
| "For the last four months all international organisations have been trying to talk to them," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme. | "For the last four months all international organisations have been trying to talk to them," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme. |
| "All regional organisations have been trying to send missions to [Eritrea's capital] Asmara and they did not even issue them visas." | "All regional organisations have been trying to send missions to [Eritrea's capital] Asmara and they did not even issue them visas." |
| He also dismissed the claim about Ethiopia amassing its forces. | He also dismissed the claim about Ethiopia amassing its forces. |
| "Whatever the Eritrean ambassador has said is hogwash," he said. | "Whatever the Eritrean ambassador has said is hogwash," he said. |
| But Mr Desta said Eritrea refused to be drawn into what he called a "fabricated conflict". | But Mr Desta said Eritrea refused to be drawn into what he called a "fabricated conflict". |