Associated Press

An unidentified member (centre) of the tourist group that was attacked is assisted as she arrives back at the airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Gunmen in Ethiopia's arid north attacked a group of European tourists travelling there, killing five, wounding two and kidnapping two.

Addis Ababa - Ethiopian security forces on Thursday were searching for gunmen who killed five European tourists and kidnapped at least two others and two guides in an attack it blamed on arch-rival Eritrea.

“We are working on how to respond to the attack... there are security operators there,” said foreign ministry spokesman Dina Mufti.

Two Germans, two Hungarians and an Austrian were killed in the attack, with others wounded, officials said.

German newspaper Bild cited security sources as saying three of its nationals were missing.

The 22 tourists were trekking near Ethiopia's famed Erta Ale volcano, one of Africa's most spectacular which lies in the remote and arid Afar depression - reputedly one of the least hospitable places on the planet.

Local rebels have claimed kidnappings in the past, but the attack before dawn on Tuesday near the tense border with Eritrea was the region's worst incident involving tourists in years.

“Eritrea has been doing this repeatedly and we are still appealing to the international community to act,” Dina said.

“We are inquiring as to the details (of the killings) but definitely they (Eritrea) are the ones who have carried out the attack,” he said.

Eritrea however has vehemently denied any involvement in the attack. A statement released late on Wednesday from Eritrea's foreign ministry said the allegations were “ludicrous” and a “smear campaign.”

Eritrea broke away from Ethiopia and won independence in 1993 after a 30-year struggle.

The two Horn of Africa neighbours fought a devastating 1998-2000 border war which claimed at least 70 000 lives and their dispute remains unresolved, with Ethiopian soldiers on land ruled by international courts to belong to Eritrea.

Ethiopia “routinely seeks to blame Eritrea for military acts of home-grown internal opposition movements” the Eritrean ministry statement read.

The ministry in accused Ethiopia of trying to deflect attention from “illegal acts of occupation” of Eritrean land.

The killings and kidnappings have dealt another blow to regional tourism after kidnappings in Kenyan resorts and attacks on yachts by Somali pirates. - Sapa-AFP