Posted on 12/07/2005 6:13:07 PM PST by blam
UN peacekeepers kicked out as war threatens Horn of Africa
By David Blair, Africa Correspondent
(Filed: 08/12/2005)
Vital elements of a United Nations force on the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea were expelled yesterday, raising tension in the region.
Eritrea's move to force out American and European members of the force greatly increased the prospect of a military confrontation along one of the world's most dangerous frontiers.
The UN mission will be effectively crippled and the expulsion could foreshadow a new war in the Horn of Africa.
Eritrea is on a permanent war footing and has massed about 200,000 troops near the border. Ethiopia has responded by sending hundreds of main battle tanks and eight infantry divisions, totalling about 50,000 men, towards its neighbour.
The two countries fought a border war between 1998 and 2000 which claimed 70,000 lives, cost billions of pounds and set back the development of one of Africa's poorest regions by years, if not decades The confrontation has been caused by Ethiopia's occupation of two towns claimed by Eritrea.
Meles Zenawi, the Ethiopian prime minister, has refused to relinquish them despite a ruling from an international boundary commission that they belong to his neighbour. President Isaias Afewerki of Eritrea has promised to capture them.
UN troops, including around 1,500 from India, patrol a 600-mile long and 15-mile wide buffer zone. Reports suggest that at least 150 staff - all key personnel - may be affected by the order.
The Eritreans have already stopped UN helicopters from monitoring the frontier.
Can't they just dialog?
A war more meaningless to our interests can hardly be imagined. Let's send Jimmy Carter to resolve the issue.
Yup...more peace coming.
I am sure the UN will do what is right and stand tough. Plus I have this ocean beach front property I would like to sell you in Montana.
I told my friend that going to Africa for vacation at this time was stupid, but noooooooooo, they had to go.
THIS IS GREAT NEWS!
As we've all learned over the Iraq thing, the best way to get a rogue nation to disarm is for UN weapon inspectors/peacekeepers to leave.
If we just sent our peacekeepers out to keep the peace with bullets and some balls.....Peace.
OK, where does Islam fit into this?
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