Eritrea-Ethiopia war resumption feared
ASMARA, Eritrea, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Eritrea and Ethiopia, whose border war has claimed 70,000 lives, may resume hostilities following the expulsion of U.N. peacekeepers from Eritrea.
The Times of London reports that U.N. peacekeepers from the United States, Europe, and Canada have been ordered to leave the border area where about quarter of a million soldiers now face each other. The peacekeepers were brought in 2000 after the two countries went to war in 1998.
Eritrea, once a part of Ethiopia, gave no explanation for deciding to expel the peacekeepers but analysts told the newspaper it was a reaction to a Security Council resolution last week, which threatened Eritrea with sanctions if it did not ease restrictions on the peacekeeping mission.
The tension has heightened because Ethiopia, despite its earlier undertaking, has not recognized the ruling of an international commission demarcating the 621-mile border.
The Times quoted analysts that Eritrea has reason to be upset because of West's reluctance to pressure Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to go with the ruling.
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