Government of Ethiopia expresses deep condolence to families of tourists killed, warns Eritrea

Addis-ababa(cakaaraNews).The Ethiopian government expressed deep condolence to the families of tourists, who were killed by terrorists while visiting tourist sites in Afar regional state, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. According to a statement the Ministry sent to ERTA on Wednesday, the attack was carried out with the direct involvement of the Eritrean government. It said the government will do everything possible to have those kidnapped released as soon as possible. The attack against innocent tourists clearly shows Asmara’s contempt for the notion of international law and customs. The statement said the incident is another indication of how determined the regime in Asmara is to continue its destabilizing activities in the region. The terrorist act is intended to coincide with the African Union Summit to be held in Addis Ababa at the end of January 2012, the statement said, adding, it might be recalled that a major bombing plot intended to disrupt the African Union Summit last January was foiled in Addis Ababa. It is an open secret that the regime in Asmara focuses its ‘diplomatic’ efforts on trying to intimidate and terrorize the international community rather than operate through normal diplomatic norms, it said. The government cannot and should not sit idle while the regime in Asmara continues to sponsor acts of terror within Ethiopia’s territory. “It will be obliged to take whatever action is necessary to stop the activities of the Eritrean regime once and for all unless the international community assumes its responsibilities and takes the necessary steps to bring this abominable behavior to an end,” said the Ministry in the statement. The Ethiopian government believes that it is still not too late for the international community to take action against the terrorist acts of the Eritrean government, the statement said. Five tourists killed two injured and another two tourists kidnapped along with two Ethiopians late on Monday in the Afar Region of Ethiopia while visiting natural attraction sites.

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