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Nicaragua-Honduras sea border set Nicaragua-Honduras sea border set
(about 2 hours later)
The International Court of Justice has drawn a new maritime border between Honduras and Nicaragua to end a long-standing dispute between them.The International Court of Justice has drawn a new maritime border between Honduras and Nicaragua to end a long-standing dispute between them.
The Central American neighbours have argued for years over their maritime boundary in the Caribbean Sea.The Central American neighbours have argued for years over their maritime boundary in the Caribbean Sea.
The area in dispute includes rich fishing areas and is believed to have potential for oil and gas exploration.The area in dispute includes rich fishing areas and is believed to have potential for oil and gas exploration.
The two presidents were to meet at their countries' land border to affirm acceptance of the ICJ's decision.The two presidents were to meet at their countries' land border to affirm acceptance of the ICJ's decision.
The binding ruling by the UN's highest court ends an eight-year dispute over where the maritime boundary lies.The binding ruling by the UN's highest court ends an eight-year dispute over where the maritime boundary lies.
The ICJ ruling set a new border off the coasts of Nicaragua and Honduras, and also granted Honduras sovereignty over four small Caribbean islands.
Tensions over the issue have at times flared with both countries seizing one another's fishing vessels.Tensions over the issue have at times flared with both countries seizing one another's fishing vessels.
While Honduras said its territory began at the 15th parallel, Nicaragua argued that the maritime border followed the line of its coast to the north-east as far as the 17th parallel.
The ICJ ruling divides the disputed territory roughly equally between the rival claims, while granting Honduras sovereignty over four small Caribbean islands.
King of SpainKing of Spain
The argument surfaced in 1999 shortly after Honduras ratified a treaty with Colombia, which has itself been in dispute with Nicaragua over the sovereignty of several small islands in the Caribbean.The argument surfaced in 1999 shortly after Honduras ratified a treaty with Colombia, which has itself been in dispute with Nicaragua over the sovereignty of several small islands in the Caribbean.
The two nations are keen to put past differences behind themThe two nations are keen to put past differences behind them
The Nicaraguans argued that this treaty infringed their territorial waters.The Nicaraguans argued that this treaty infringed their territorial waters.
They asked the ICJ to set a valid maritime border between Nicaragua and Honduras.They asked the ICJ to set a valid maritime border between Nicaragua and Honduras.
The Honduran government argued that the maritime boundary had been set by the King of Spain in 1906.The Honduran government argued that the maritime boundary had been set by the King of Spain in 1906.
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and his Honduran counterpart, Manuel Zelaya, were to meet in the border town of Las Manos to show their mutual acceptance of the ruling.Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and his Honduran counterpart, Manuel Zelaya, were to meet in the border town of Las Manos to show their mutual acceptance of the ruling.
"I anxiously await the international verdict, which Honduras will fully abide by," Mr Zelaya said in a statement ahead of their meeting."I anxiously await the international verdict, which Honduras will fully abide by," Mr Zelaya said in a statement ahead of their meeting.