"The ministry of foreign affairs announces that the Eritrean authorities instead of showing readiness for peace have carried out an air attack on Mekele town wounding five people," the radio said on Friday.

"The ministry, in a statement on June 5, said the attack was carried out at a time when Ethiopia has fully accepted the proposals submitted by the facilitators to end the crisis between Ethiopia and Eritrea."

The ministry statement was quoted as saying that the "further escalation of the war of aggression" should come as no surprise, given the "irrationality in Asmara".

"Ethiopia, in a response to this Eritrean aggression, has in self defence taken military measures against Asmara air force base," it said.

The radio also reported that "in view of the current situation prevailing in the country", the Ethiopian Government had decided that the number of Eritrean embassy staff in Addis Ababa be reduced to three persons "and that all others together with their dependants leave the country by Sunday June 7."

"The Eritrean consulate in Asayita in Afar region, and Mekele in Tigray region, will also be closed henceforth," Ethiopian radio reported.