Hundreds of Eritreans flee to Ethiopia - state radio

[struggle4progress]

ADDIS ABABA, June 17 (Reuters) - More than 600 Eritreans have crossed into neighbouring Ethiopia in the last nine months seeking political asylum, state radio reported on Friday.

Up to 634 Eritreans opposed to the rule of President Isayas Afewerki, had crossed the border, the radio quoted police in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region as saying.

It said 117 were women while the rest were Eritrean soldiers, trainee soldiers or university students.

Eritrea said the report exaggerated the number who had left and accused Ethiopia of raising the issue to divert attention from tensions at home over its disputed May 15 elections. <snip>

http://www.sudantribune.com/article.php3?id_article=10219