Agence France-Presse (in English) — 1152 GMT

Unidentified saboteurs blew up two bridges on the Djibouti Addis Ababa railway overnight, bringing rail traffic to a standstill, informed sources said here today.

The explosions occurred at points 4 km (2 miles) and 9 km (5 miles) from the Ethiopian town of Dire Dawa, midway point between this French Red Sea port and the Ethiopian capital, the source said.

In a separate incident, unidentified gunmen fired on a train during the night about 40 km (25 miles) outside Dire Dawa, wounding a railway man.

There was no word on the extent of damage to the two bridges. The line is vital to Ethiopia, carrying about two-thirds of its exports and imports.

Observers here held pro-Somali elements opposed to Ethiopia’s military responsible for the explosions. The future of the railway, jointly owned by Ethiopia and France, is under negotiation now that Djibouti is scheduled for independence on June 27, observers noted.