Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — The International Committee of the Red Cross Saturday said it facilitated the repatriation of 690 additional Ethiopians and 357 Eritreans.

The 690 Ethiopian civilians from Adi Abeto were repatriated Friday from the Eritrean town of Adi Quala to the Ethiopian border post at Rama, via the Mereb river crossing point, the ICRC said in a statement.

It said the internees, who are mostly family groups, were earlier rounded up from their homes and work places in Asmara and surrounding areas.

The 357 Eritrean civilians, who were residing and working in the towns of Makale, Adigrat and Shirre, were taken home in Adi Quala Saturday via the Mereb River crossing point.

The fresh Ethiopian returnees bring to the total of 7,269 civilian Ethiopians so far repatriated from Eritrea since both countries signed the comprehensive peace agreement on 12 December 2000 to end border conflict.

They have also exchanged large numbers of prisoners of war, including wounded soldiers.