Ethiopia, Eritrea Both Claim Battle Victories

Ethiopia and Eritrea each reported inflicting heavy losses on the other as battles raged for a third day in a new round of their border war. Ignoring international pleas for restraint, the two former allies pounded each other with heavy artillery and aerial attacks while their troops battled for control of disputed border territories. Military analysts say the fighting resembles battles in World War I, when waves of soldiers poured out of trenches and into enemy fire. Eritrea said more than 25,000 Ethiopian soldiers had been killed or wounded in fighting on the western Badme front. Ethiopia denied the losses and said its forces clearly had the upper hand as it held its first multi-party elections Sunday. The balloting was marked by violence when security forces reportedly opened fire on protesters, killing seven. The war is not considered to be a factor in the elections.