BOMB ATTACK IN SOUTHWEST ERITREA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000074 DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/IP/SPC/SO, AF/E, LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2029 TAGS: PTER ASEC PINS MOPS PREL ER SUBJECT: BOMB ATTACK IN SOUTHWEST ERITREA Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for Reason 1.4 (d) ¶1. (SBU) The Eritrean government announced a bomb exploded in a restaurant in the village of Haikota on February 25, 2009, killing two persons and injuring eight others. Haikota is located approximately 125 miles west of Asmara and approximately 15 miles east of Tessenei. The wounded are being treated at a hospital in Barentu and some have been transported to Asmara for medical care. The police are investigating the incident but have not yet released any statements as to who was responsible. There have been no reports of any Americans being injured or involved in this attack. ¶2. (C) Post Comments: RSO spoke with ICRC members who had no additional information from their medical center in Barentu. FSNI spoke with the Eritrean police who had no additional infomation. Historically the Eritrean government only releases statements on attacks within Eritrea when they can attribute them to the Ethiopian government or their proxies. MCMULLEN