Eritreans say 1,850 war dead

THE EAST African state of Eritrea claimed yesterday that its troops had killed 1,850 Ethiopian troops in heavy fighting on the border of the two countries. A spokesman for the Ethiopian authorities described the Eritrean claims as fabrication.

Eritrean radio said clashes occurred on the Mereb-Setit section of the 600-mile border. The battle, close to the disputed Badme area where war first broke out last year, began on Thursday, with each side accusing the other of firing the first shot.

Tens of thousands of soldiers are thought to have died in a war that has raged for more than a year. Military analysts had predicted another battle before the rainy season begins next month.