The former chairman of the Asmara University Students Union, Semere Kesete Negasi, has escaped from a sha'biyyah [Eritrean] prison together with an escort, and fled to Ethiopia on 26 Hamle [2 August].

Carrying an AK-47 rifle and two hand grenades, Semere escaped from a prison in Asmara in a skilled manner and arrived in Ethiopia after four days of arduous trekking. Explaining as to why he came to Ethiopia, Semere said he was impressed by Ethiopia's humane handling of sha'biyyah POWs, army defectors and students who were fleeing to Ethiopia by opposing the sha'biyyah's rounding ups.

Finally, Semere said Eritrea was in bad situation because of the barbarous regime of [President] Isayas Afewerki, and called on the Eritrean people to rise and topple the regime.

Source: Voice of the Tigray Revolution, Mekele, in Tigrinya 0400 gmt 5 Aug 02

/ý BBC Monitoring