The citizens of Africa's youngest state, Eritrea, threw a vast street party to mark the 10th anniversary of their struggle for independence from Ethiopia on Wednesday, briefly forgetting the uncertainties they face.
Grizzled veterans of Eritrea's 30-year liberation war mingled with fresh-faced students back from overseas to commemorate the climax of the struggle -- the capture of the capital Asmara.
"There are no words to explain how happy I feel," said Mesgina Tsegai, an engineer.
"Ten years ago our freedom fighters walked into this city and declared the rights of the people of Eritrea."
The relaxed atmosphere was very different from last year's anniversary, when Eritrea was suffering heavy losses in a border war with its much larger neighbor.
Ethiopia seized a large swathe of territory in the two-year conflict, which ended with a cease-fire last June and is thought to have killed tens of thousands of soldiers in trench warfare.
But as Asmara's residents toasted their freedom with special anniversary beer under the glow of fairy lights in national red, yellow, blue and green, past pain was forgotten.
"I left home because of the war, it was very sad," said Elsa Yosef, a nurse who fled to the United States when fighting broke out in May 1998. "All the young men, they went to the war, but to see all of them here is really special." -- ASMARA (Reuters)
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
