The Office of Local Government, which has been vacant since Mr. Mahmoud Sheriffo was fired in February 2001, is slated to receive a new minister.  Topping the list of prospective candidates is reported to be the current defense minister, General Sebhat Ephrem.  Mr. Mahmoud Sheriffo has been jailed since September 2001.

Replacing General Sebhat Ephrem at the Ministry of Defense will be the current Foreign Minister, Ali Said.   Ms. Askalu Menkorius is reportedly being considered for the position of Foreign Minister.

Meanwhile, Major General Teklay Habteselassie, has been named as the permanent replacement for Brigadier General Habtesion Hadgu, who was demoted from his rank as the commander of Eritrea�s Air Force, shortly after Eritrea purchased three SU-29 from Russia and saw the defection of five members of Eritrean Air Force sent for training to the Ukraine.  As Gedab News reported in a previous issue, Colonel Abraham Ogbaselassie had filled the position on an interim basis.    In addition to being the Commander of the Air Force, Major General Teklay Habteselassie has been placed in charge of the �Warsai-Yekaalo Initiative�, an ambitious government plan geared to developing Eritrea�s industries in transportation, agriculture, fisheries and education by utilizing the mobilized members of the nation�s defense forces.