Eritrean prisoners' joyful return

The Eritreans queue to board the Red Cross plane

By Alex Last in Asmara

All of the freed Eritreans who stepped on to the tarmac at Asmara airport on Saturday had been wounded in the bitter two-year border war with Ethiopia.

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Many were still bandaged, even though the last was captured more than seven months ago.

Eritrean women sang and ululated, showering the returning soldiers with popcorn as they were helped off the plane by International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) officials.

Flowers, bread and champagne were offered as each PoW passed through the throng of people on to waiting buses and ambulances.

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Many of the prisoners were grinning broadly - others simply looked bewildered, sometimes bypassing the Eritrean Minister of Defence, Sebath Ephrem, who was waiting to shake their hands.

The PoWs said they were very happy to be home, and that they were moved by the welcome.

It was an occasion of joy, but the sight of the young wounded men was a vivid reminder of the sacrifices of the war.

Civilian swaps

The flights are scheduled to continue over the next few days, which will complete the initial exchange of some 700 detainees.

The ICRC described the operation as a big success, saying it was pleased that the process had started so quickly.

The Eritrean Government said the exchange was an early Christmas present for both peoples.

Earlier in the day, 1,400 Ethiopian civilians interned in Eritrea were repatriated to Ethiopia by land.

Both sides are committed to returning thousands of civilians interned during the war to their respective countries.