ADDIS ABABA, Oct 26 (Reuters) - A group of rebels Ethiopia blames for the kidnapping of five Europeans and eight locals earlier this year has surrendered, Ethiopia said on Friday.

Parading the 28 alleged Afar Liberation Front fighters on state television, Afar region security chief Mohammed Nur said they turned themselves in near the Eritrean border this week.

The 28 men were wearing rags, with weapons piled nearby.

"The Eritrean-backed, so-called Afar Liberation Front has been active in cross-border raids, killing people and destroying infrastructure for the last seven years," Mohammed said.

"They were also involved in the abduction of foreigners and Ethiopians ... early this year." He gave no other details.

One of the 28, who told Ethiopian TV he was their leader, said the group had been under the orders of Eritrea.

The Europeans and Ethiopians were abducted on March 1 from the small town of Hamed-Ila, near the Eritrean border, by gunmen who later said they were from the Afar separatist movement.

The Europeans -- three British men, an Italian-British woman and a French woman -- were released after two weeks later. The eight Ethiopians were freed after two months as hostages.

Ethiopia has repeatedly blamed its arch-foe Eritrea for masterminding the abduction. Asmara denies the charges.

AlertNet news is provided by