Eritrea allowed to appoint AU envoy after bitter protest

The African Union Commission Chief Jean Ping, has informed Eritrea to send an ambassador to represent it in Addis Ababa, the seat of the African Union (AU), despite Eritrea's frosty relations with hosts, Ethiopia.

Eritrea, which is one of only two African countries on the AU sanctions list, protested to the African leaders that its right to fair representation at the AU, had been violated.

Eritrea's Foreign Minister, Osman Saleh, wrote a protest letter to the AU Commission, saying that it had been unable to enjoy its rights as one of the 53 members of the AU.

'For over 10 years, Eritrea's right as a member of the African Union has been willfully violated, in contemptuous disregard of the headquarters agreement with the AU,' Saleh wrote.

In his response to the Eritrean protest, Ping informed Eritrea in a letter, dated 29 January, 2010, that the country was entitled to fair representation at the AU.

But Eritrea's right to appoint an envoy or to send a delegation to the AU, would be strictly limited to its work at the AU.

Ping said after receiving the Eritrean protest, he held talks with Ethiopian aut horities 'at the highest level' and received assurances that Eritrea could open a mission.

'We have been informed that the establishment of such a mission will be in accordance with the terms conveyed to you by the former AU Commission Chairperson, Prof Alpha Konare,' Ping said.

Eritrea will be allowed to open an embassy in Addis Ababa, specifically accredited to the AU.

This embassy will not be allowed to carry out any bilateral activities and its staff will operate from Addis Ababa, only where the AU headquarters is located, Ping said.

Ping said his predecessor, Prof. Konare, also informed Eritrea that it could attend the AU meetings in Ethiopia. He said Ethiopia has assured Eritrean diplomats of visa and security should they plan to attend future AU mee tings in Addis Ababa.

'In light of this, I would urge Mr. Minister, that you kindly reiterate to your government this assurance from the government of Ethiopia, so that its Mission to the AU, could be established as soon as possible,' Ping wrote.

Eritrea is under heavy UN sanctions for allegedly supplying arms to rebel fighters in Somalia.

Ethiopia proposed the Eritrean sanctions during a meeting in Addis Ababa, of the ministers from the Inter-government Authority on Development (IGAD).

The AU adopted the request to impose sanctions against Eritrea for its destabilization of Somalia during an AU Summit in June, 2009, in Sirte, central Libya.

Eritrea and Ethiopia went to war over a disputed territory and have refused to settle their differences. Efforts to mediate the crisis have been opposed by both sides.

Source:afriquejet.com/

Egypt: Police kill two black migrants

Egyptian border police shot dead two African migrants who tried to escape into Israel through the Sinai border, bringing the number of migrants killed this week to four. Police sources say they refused orders to stop. They were a 26-year-old Eritrean and a 27-year-old migrant of unknown nationality.
Another migrant from Eritrea was critically injured by police as the clandestine group attempted to reach Israel, AFP reported on Thursday.

Observers say increased violence at the border is partly due to the increasing popularity of the route, seen as safer than risking passage by sea from Libya to Europe.

Egyptian Police say they have detained another five Eritreans and three Ethiopians who tried to get into Israel on Wednesday.

Dozens of unarmed Africans, many from Eritrea, Ethiopia and Sudan, seeking work or asylum in Israel were killed by Egyptian border guards last year, while five have died this year.

Israel has been pressuring Egypt to clamp down on the traffic, with a recent approval of the construction of barriers along the two countries' 155-mile border.

Source:africanews.com/

Rapist migrant from Eritrea 'may be deported'

An illegal immigrant has been sent to prison for raping an 18-year-old woman at a holiday camp where they worked.

Merhawi Ghebe, 30, from Eritrea, had at first denied the offence at the Gwynedd camp but pleaded guilty after DNA evidence came to light.

In addition to the four-and-a-half year prison term, he was placed on the sex offenders' register for life.

Caernarfon Crown Court heard that Ghebe could be deported when he is released from prison.

Ghebe had initially told police the girl had pulled him on to a bed and asked him for a hug, and denied any sexual contact.

John Philpotts, prosecuting, said the DNA evidence proved this was a lie.

The court heard that Ghebe had been sentenced to nine months in jail at Isleworth crown court in November 2007 for having a false identity document.

On his release a friend had found him work in a Pwllheli kebab shop, then most of last year he was employed at the camp.

John Wyn Williams, defending, said Ghebe moved to Britain from Eritrea after being in Italy, and it may be that in due course he will be deported.

Source:news.bbc.co.uk/