The Ethiopian government yesterday declared "total victory" in its border war with Eritrea after recapturing the contested Badme region, but Eritrea said fighting continued.
On Saturday, in the face of military losses, Eritrea told the United Nations Security Council it accepted a peace plan drawn up by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) which Ethiopia had already endorsed.
Despite international calls for an immediate ceasefire, the Eritrean presidential adviser, Mr Yermane Gebremeskel, said Ethiopia launched a fresh assault at 11 a.m. (8 a.m. Irish time) yesterday along the 60 km Badme front in the highlands. He later added it was "on a much smaller scale than the last few days".
The Ethiopian government spokeswoman, Ms Selome Tadd esse, said that allegation was "a pure and simple lie aimed at hoodwinking public opinion", adding that there was no Eritrean force to fight against in Badme.
"A total victory for Ethiopian defence forces was achieved on Friday," she said in an earlier statement, quoting central military command. "The enemy has been totally routed out of the area."
The latest round of fighting between the Horn of Africa neighbours began last Tuesday as Ethiopian troops tried to recapture territory which Eritrea had occupied in May last year at the start of the conflict.
Mr Yermane confirmed Eritrea had retreated from the Badme plain to higher ground to the north after Ethiopian troops broke through its defensive line last week.
But Ms Selome said Eritrea's army had been destroyed and retreated "in total disarray".
The 15-member UN Security Council, meeting in an emergency session on Saturday, welcomed Eritrea's acceptance of the OAU plan and called for both sides to stop fighting.