The World - News from Sept. 20, 1987

Ethiopia’s Parliament agreed to grant autonomy under a new constitution to five regions in an apparent attempt to placate rebels. Under the constitution proclaimed this month, Parliament decides the boundaries, status and degree of autonomy of selected regions, but the charter gives no other details. Parliament said the “autonomous regions” will include the troubled northern provinces of Eritrea and Tigre, as well as Assab on the Red Sea coast, and Dire Dawa and Ogaden in the east. Eritrean rebels, who have fought for independence since 1962, criticized the autonomy provision as too vague.