ERITREA-ETHIOPIA: End to use of child soldiers urged1

Follow @{0}NAIROBI, 11 July 2000 (IRIN) - An international NGO group said on Tuesday that it hoped the current ceasefire in the border war between Ethiopia and its northern neighbour, Eritrea, would bring an immediate end to the exploitation of child soldiers and lead to a rapid demobilisation of boys under 18 bearing arms.

The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, said in a statement it had launched a special appeal to the two governments "to ensure that children take no further part in this armed conflict by ending the military recruitment of children, demobilising those already serving in their ranks and releasing into safety child prisoners of war".