Eritrea: 'Troops deployed' in Asmara

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Eritrea: 'Troops deployed' in Asmara

 

Reports from Eritrea say a group of about 200 soldiers backed by tanks have surrounded the ministry of information in the capital, Asmara.

 

State TV has also reportedly been taken off air in what some have described as a coup attempt.

 

The city is said to be calm with no shots having been fired.

 

Eritrea's government has been criticised by human rights activists as one of the world's most repressive and closed countries.

 

The websites of key Eritrean state and ruling party media are currently operating erratically, with the site for the ruling People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) party inaccessible.

 

A statement has reportedly been read out on state radio and television calling for the implementation of the country's 1997 constitution.

 

The UK Foreign Office said that it had received reports of "unusual military movements in and around Asmara", and noted that local radio and TV appear to have been shut down.

 

President Isaias Afewerki has ruled the country as a one-party state since independence from neighbouring Ethiopia in 1993.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Some one or something is trying to remove Isayas afewerki from power i dont think some one can remove him from power he can only die in office like Meles zenawi.

[NGONGE]

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - A group of Eritrean soldiers laid siege to the information ministry on Monday and forced state media to announce a call for the release of political prisoners, a senior intelligence official said.

 

There was no immediate indication it was an attempt to overthrow the government of Eritrea, which has been led by Isaias Afewerki, 66, for some two decades since it broke away from bigger neighbor Ethiopia.

 

The renegade soldiers forced the director of state television to make an announcement, the Eritrean intelligence official said.

 

"The soldiers have forced him to speak on state TV, to say the Eritrean government should release all political prisoners," the source told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

 

There was no immediate official comment.

 

The United Nations last year estimated that 5,000-10,000 political prisoners were being held in the secretive Horn of Africa country, which is accused by human rights groups of carrying out torture and summary executions.

 

Dozens of soldiers with two tanks surrounded the ministry building in Asmara, regional diplomatic sources said. They said state television and radio had gone off air.

 

The gold-producing Red Sea state, which declared independence from Ethiopia after a long war, is one of the most opaque countries on the continent and it restricts access to foreign reporters.

 

Eritrean opposition activists exiled in neighboring Ethiopia said there was growing dissent within the Eritrean military especially over economic hardships.

 

"Economic issues have worsened and have worsened relations between the government and soldiers in the past few weeks and months," one activist told Reuters.

 

The United Nations' Security Council imposed an embargo on Eritrea in 2009 over concerns its government was funding and arming al Shabaab rebels in neighboring Somalia - charges Asmara denied.

 

Gold companies with mines or projects in Eritrea include Sunridge Gold Corp, Nevsun Resources Ltd and Chalice Gold.

 

(Additional reporting by Tesfa Alem Tekle in Mekele; Writing by Duncan Miriri; Editing by Matthew Tostevin)

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

A man who doesnt like opposition lol those soldiers will be executed fire squad. isayas will call them Ethiopian proxies lets see how this unfolds.

[Wadani]

Interesting developments.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Reports: Eritrea troops lay siege to ministry

Dissident soldiers take over information ministry and force state media to call for the release of political prisoners.

Last Modified: 21 Jan 2013 16:43

 

A group of dissident Eritrean soldiers have laid siege to the information ministry and forced the state media to announce a call for the release of political prisoners, according to a senior Eritrean intelligence official.

 

The renegade soldiers forced the director of state television to make an announcement, the intelligence official said.

 

"The soldiers have forced him to speak on state TV, to say the Eritrean government should release all political prisoners," the source said on condition of anonymity.

 

Dozens of soldiers with two tanks surrounded the ministry building in Asmara, regional diplomatic sources said.

 

They said state television and radio had gone off air.

 

Ambassador Araya Desta, Eritrea's Permanent Representative to the UN said, "There is no problem. Everything is quiet. Everything is going to be solved. It is all fine."

 

A statement from the US embassy in Asmara said the "US embassy Asmara is aware of press reports that tanks have reportedly surrounded some ministry buildings but cannot confirm all the reports. The situation remains fluid."

 

There was no immediate indication it was an attempt to overthrow the government of Eritrea, which has been led by Isaias Afewerki, 66, for some two decades since it broke away from bigger neighbour Ethiopia.

 

The UN last year estimated that 5-10,000 political prisoners were being held in the secretive Horn of Africa country, which is accused by human rights groups of carrying out torture and summary executions.

 

The Red Sea state, which declared independence from Ethiopia after a long war, is one of the most opaque countries on the continent and it restricts access to foreign reporters.

 

Eritrean opposition activists exiled in neighbouring Ethiopia said there was growing dissent within the Eritrean military, especially over economic hardships.

 

"Economic issues have worsened and have worsened relations between the government and soldiers in the past few weeks and months," one activist said.

 

The UN Security Council imposed an embargo on Eritrea in 2009 over concerns its government was funding and arming al-Shabaab rebels in neighbouring Somalia - charges Eritrea denied.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Apophis;910610 wrote:

This is bad news for ONLF. Very bad news.

Horta Eritrea is the only country that openly supports ONLF how are ONLF sudan relations.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Ma afka uun baad ka tageerta mala aniga ba ka xogaalsan

[Haatu]

.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Haatu dhibicdu maxay ahayd:D

[Haatu]

Apophis;910637 wrote:

It's a family thing, so I've inherited it.

I;ve always wondered why this is the case.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Its his family thing the ONLF maybe he is related to the Admiral clan wise

[Haatu]

Horta which which clan is the admiral. PM me. I don't want to get in trouble

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

^^ The exact same clan name as the main clan of Somaliland

[Haatu]

Beenlow