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UN troops begin Eritrea pull-out UN troops begin Eritrea pull-out
(about 2 hours later)
The UN has confirmed that its peacekeeping force for Ethiopia and Eritrea has begun a "temporary relocation" out of Eritrea. The United Nations has confirmed that its peacekeeping force for Ethiopia and Eritrea, Unmee, has begun a "temporary relocation" out of Eritrea.
The peacekeepers, known as Unmee, were monitoring the border security zone set up at the end of the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The peacekeepers were monitoring the border security zone set up in 2000 at the end of a brutal two-year war which killed tens of thousands of people.
They have left after the Eritrean government cut off their fuel supplies.They have left after the Eritrean government cut off their fuel supplies.
Although the move is being described as temporary it looks unlikely that the peacekeepers will be going back. Last week, the UN warned the two sides could return to war, as troops were being amassed in the security zone.
Diplomats here in Addis Ababa say privately they cannot imagine a return and that this is the beginning of the end for Unmee. "Clearly the signs point towards a resumption of the conflict," UN spokesman Yves Sorokobi told the BBC last week.
'Humiliation' warning The BBC's Elizabeth Blunt in Ethiopia says although the move is being described as temporary, it looks unlikely Unmee troops will be going back.
Eritrea accepted international surveillance of a large swathe of its territory as part of the peace agreement that followed its defeat in the war with Ethiopia. Our correspondent says that diplomats in Addis Ababa say privately they cannot imagine a return for Unmee and that this is the beginning of the end of the peace force.
But with a boundary commission decision in its favour having proved unenforceable, Eritrea now seems to have decided that it has had enough of the UN force and has managed to force it out by cutting off its fuel supplies. name="return"> class="bodl" href="#map">Click here to see a map of the border
The government here in Addis Ababa warned the UN against allowing itself to be humiliated by one party to the agreement, but has said it will cooperate in allowing the withdrawing troops to relocate to northern Ethiopia. Eritrea is angered at its neighbour's failure to hand over Badme, the disputed town which sparked the conflict, which a Boundary Commission set up after the war, awarded to Eritrea.
The main practical issue now is whether the UN force will be allowed to bring all its vehicles and equipment out with it. TENSE BORDER Dec 2000: Peace agreement Apr 2002: Border rulingMar 2003: Ethiopian complaint over Badme rejected Oct 2005: Eritrea restricts peacekeepers' activitiesNov 2005: UN sanctions threat if no compliance with 2000 dealDec 2007: Deadline to demarcate the border expires without agreementDec 2007: Eritrea cuts fuel supplies to the UNFeb 2008: UN warns of a return to war as it withdraws from Eritrea class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/4041073.stm">Q&A: Horn's bitter war
Eritrea accepted international surveillance of a large swathe of its territory as part of the peace agreement that followed the war with Ethiopia.
But with the Boundary Commission decision in its favour, Eritrea wants the international community to put pressure on Ethiopia to withdraw from Badme.
Having lost patience with the UN, it has managed to force out the 1,400 troops and 200 military observers by cutting off fuel supplies.
The government in Addis Ababa warned the UN against allowing itself to be humiliated by one party to the agreement, but has said it will co-operate in allowing the withdrawing troops to relocate to northern Ethiopia.
Our correspondent says the main practical issue now is whether the UN force will be allowed to bring all its vehicles and equipment out with it.
In a briefing to diplomats, many of whose countries have contributed to the mission, Unmee said it was determined not to leave anything of military value behind.In a briefing to diplomats, many of whose countries have contributed to the mission, Unmee said it was determined not to leave anything of military value behind.
But the spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that although some convoys had been allowed to cross into Ethiopia, others had been turned back by the Eritrean authorities. But the spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that although some convoys had been allowed to cross into Ethiopia, others had been turned back by the Eritrean authorities.
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