Eritrean Road Remains Closed To UN Peacekeepers

Eritrean Road Remains Closed To UN Peacekeepers

Eritrea has retained restrictions on the movements of United Nations peacekeepers north of the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) in the border area with Ethiopia, but Ethiopia lifted its interdictions in the south of the zone, the UN mission to the two countries (UNMEE) said today.

At a Military Coordinating Commission (MCC) meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, UNMEE's Major-General Robert Gordon noted the Security Council's resolution appealing to the Eritrean authorities to give UNMEE "the freedom of movement it needs to carry out its mandate."

Brigadier-General Abrahaley Kifle of Eritrea said the issue of restrictions on UNMEE in the TSZ and adjacent areas, including its movement along the Asmara-Keren Road, was subject to Eritrea's own investigation into the matter and, until this was done, the road would remain closed to UNMEE.

The MCC, which brings together delegates from Eritrea, Ethiopia, UNMEE and the African Union (AU), is slated to meet again on 10 May in Nairobi.

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