Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASMARA85
2009-03-10 13:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
ERITREAN PRESIDENTIAL GUARDS KILLED IN AN ON-DUTY
how-toDavid A Kirby 03/10/2009 09:38:28 AM From DB/Inbox: David A Kirby Cable Text: CONFIDENTIAL TELEGRAM March 10, 2009 To: SECSTATE WASHDC - ROUTINE Action: DS From: AMEMBASSY ASMARA (ASMARA 85 - ROUTINE) TAGS: ASEC, PGOV, PREL, ER Captions: None Subject: ERITREAN PRESIDENTIAL GUARDS KILLED IN AN ON-DUTY AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT Ref: 08 ASMARA 15 _________________________________________________________________ Additional Addressees: None cc: AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY PARIS CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL CIA WASHDC HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE SECDEF WASHDC NSC WASHDC JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ COMUSNAVCENT DIA WASHDC Distribution: TED1327 ACTION DS-00 INFO LOG-00 MFA-00 AF-00 AID-00 INL-00 PERC-00 EAP-00 EUR-00 VCI-00 H-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 MOFM-00 MOF-00 VCIE-00 NSAE-00 OIG-00 FMPC-00 IRM-00 SSO-00 SS-00 ASDS-00 CBP-00 SCRS-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-00 CARC-00 SAS-00 FA-00 SWCI-00 /000W ------------------3D34FB 101327Z /38 R 101323Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0212 INFO AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY PARIS CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL CIA WASHDC CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ COMUSNAVCENT DIA WASHDC HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL NSC WASHDC SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000085
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/IP/SPC/SO, AF/E,
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2029
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL ER
SUBJECT: ERITREAN PRESIDENTIAL GUARDS KILLED IN AN ON-DUTY
AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for Reason 1.4 (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000085
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/IP/SPC/SO, AF/E,
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2029
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL ER
SUBJECT: ERITREAN PRESIDENTIAL GUARDS KILLED IN AN ON-DUTY
AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for Reason 1.4 (d)
¶1. (SBU) Eritrean media have reported five members of the
pesidential protective detail were killed last week in the
Gash Barka region of western Eritrea. A local source told
RSO the five security personnel were in a follow car and
became separated from Isaias's car during a vehicle movement.
While trying to catch up, they had a head-on collision with
a ministry of defense truck. Flags were at half-mast this
weekend in Asmara as the security personnel were buried.
¶2. (C) Comment: RSO observed the presidential guard during a
CODEL in January 2008. The presidential guard did not seem
competent and allowed RSO to get within two feet of Isaias
without stopping him during a walking movement. During a
dinner event, Isaias abruptly left the venue in his personal
car without notifying his security detail. His security
detail did not know he had left the site until one minute
after his departure and had to scramble to catch up to his
vehicle (Reftel).
MCMULLEN