The radio war in the Horn

Ethiopian troops are still deep inside Eritrea

Government statements on the war in the Horn which are released through the websites and news agencies often seem far removed from what the radio stations tell the people on the ground.

The military balance is changing in favour of the Eritrean defence forces

Eritrean radio

On the day after Eritrea announced its withdrawal back to pre-war positions, its state radio was reporting "huge losses" inflicted on Ethiopian forces.

The military balance was "changing in favour" of Eritrea with enemy strength "badly affected" as fighting continued at the front.

On the same day, Ethiopian state radio was reporting jubilation in the capital at a "major victory" over the Eritreans on the main front.

"Addis Ababa residents are expressing their joy after the heroic Ethiopian defence forces achieved a major victory on the Zela Ambesa-Egala front," it said.

"The people of Addis Ababa took to the streets to praise the glorious victory and express their firm support for the army. Some members of the defence forces have also joined the demonstrators. The demonstrators were heard chanting slogans of national pride and sentiments."

Appeals for help

One possible sign that the war was not going Eritrea's way were the calls for international support broadcast by its state radio.

The Eritrean people is saddened and angered by the international community's silence

Eritrean President Isayas Afewerki

It quoted President Isaias Afwerki appealing to the outside world to "shoulder its responsibility and condemn the naked aggression... and support the right of Eritrea to self-defence".

Eritrea was "saddened and angered by the international community's silence and above all its punishment of the victim of the aggression and rewarding of the aggressor".

As news of Ethiopian military gains broke elsewhere, the radio carried reports on pro-Eritrean rallies in Stockholm and London.

"The Swedish media have covered the Eritrean demonstration extensively," the radio remarked, adding that demonstrators in London had managed to block traffic and meet an MP.

Ethiopian reassurances

A measure of Ethiopia's confidence in the success of its military campaign may be its reassurances to Eritreans that it is not out to conquer them.

Ethiopian radio's English-language service broadcast a message from Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin to Eritreans to reject their "crazy and irresponsible leadership" and trust Ethiopia.

Ethiopia has no interest in undermining Eritrea's dignity and sovereignty

Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin

The fighting deep inside Eritrea was "only a war situation in an effort to reverse the flagrant Eritrean war of aggression" and Ethiopia had "no desire of annexing Eritrean territory".

Ethiopia would "immediately withdraw" once it had recovered lost territory.

By contrast, Eritrean radio warned of Ethiopia's determination to "enslave" Eritreans.

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.