By Tesfa-alem Tekle

November 16, 2008 (MEKELLE) – An Eritrean rebel group, The Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization (RSADO) claimed killing over two hundred government troops during an attack carried last week against a military training center inside the country.

The Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization (RSADO) on Sunday said that its fighters have killed at least 285 Eritrean military officers including top military leaders in what it called was the most devastating assault taken earlier this week at a military training base in the remote central Denkelliya region of Afambo local area.

The attack comes after 200 Eritrean Afar-ethnic government Militias willingly surrender to the Afar rebel group two weeks ago.

RSADO’s Executive committee member and head of information and communication ,Yasin Mohamed back from the borders to coordinate the mission and now in Mekelle town says the accomplished mission is well prepared and the most successful and the biggest attack ever attempted by any other Eritrean resistance groups.

"In an unusual attack our gallant fighters on Monday at around 8:30 local time have sneaked a big military training center based at Afambo area and bombarded a hall packed with over 450 Eritrean military officers who were celebrating the end of higher military training," he said.

The rebel official added they also hit a truck carrying gas tanker and a generator outside which completely turned the whole area into massive fire and end up the fun and laughter into shouts, crying and dead bodies.

The Afambo military training base is the biggest training center next to Sawa, an area where tens of thousands of Eritreans from all wakes of life take mandatory military training.

The group explained the success of the attack saying it was taken along with the 200 deserted government militias who had every inside information needed to accomplish the attack.

"We have confirmed the death of at least 285 Eritrean military officers" Yasin said adding "we believe hundreds of others are also wounded or dead then after"

He also said during the occasion, Eritrean military officials who were engaged in training Ethiopian rebels for cross border attacks and also Ethiopia rebel leaders from OLF, ONLF, Tigray rebels who are based In Eritrea were invited .

"We believe Ethiopian former Derg regime’s commander, colonel Selhadin Ali, currently coordinator of cross-border attacks against Ethiopia is killed during the attack” Yasin alleged, adding “ colonel Birhanu head of the attacked military center and top military leader of Eritrean forces is also dead or seriously wounded."

Yasin said, the sudden and massive attack taken has created frustration and resentment to Eritrean authorities, higher military officials and to Eritrean troops in general

“Eritrean president Isayas Afeworki had to postpone his scheduled visit to neighboring Sudan for at least one day after he heard the shocking news” He claimed.

The rebel RSADO is a member of the Eritrean democratic Alliance, umbrella opposition of 13 Eritrean political parties.

In a separate incident the rebel group has also destroyed a radar station in the southern Red sea zone same day same time.

“In parallel to the above raid a different force of RSADO has smashed radar stationed at the mountainous area of Ramllo area” He added.

The group said the latest attack is a big blow to Isayas -led government who repeatedly says "there are no any internal opposition groups in Eritrea ".

(ST)