Asmara - Eritrean President Issaias Afeworki has dismissed Ethiopian allegations that Eritrea abducted five European tourists and their guides last week in the Ethiopian desert as "totally baseless". In his first public comment on the high-profile abduction Issaias said: "Evil acts of this nature are not our political culture." His remarks were posted on the Eritrean information ministry's website late on Thursday. While Britain has said the abduction was likely linked to local rebel groups in Afar, Ethiopian News Agency ENA on Wednesday quoted local elders as saying Eritrean soldiers had taken the five to neighbouring Eritrea. Beckett said London remains in "the closest possible touch" with Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Source: Ethiopian News September 13, 2017 06:11 UTC