Eritrea: Public Disorder Ensues Withdrawal Of Peacekeepers

28 February 2008, United Nations, New York-- During the daily briefing today regarding Eritrea, the UN reported that public disorder ensued yesterday following withdrawal of UN peacekeepers (UNMEE) from their deployment cite inside the Temporary Security Zone. Following is the transcript of today's daily briefing:

At Camp Dunn, also in Temporary Security Zone, some 100 people entered the site after cutting the perimeter fence. UN peacekeepers and Eritrean police were able to contain the situation. But early today, another group of local people again attempted to force their way into the camp, but were stopped by UN peacekeepers and local police, who detained several of them.” said the report.

The Mission continues to encounter obstructions at the Senafe checkpoint where Eritrean soldiers are turning back some UN convoys. In the past 24 hours, seven UN posts inside the Temporary Security Zone were vacated and taken over by Eritrean militia, police and army personnel.

Regrouping continues for UN peacekeepers in Asmara, with noted progress in the relocation from 33 deployment sites in the Temporary Security Zone to Asmara and Assab.

That’s according to the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), which adds that to date, 788 out of a total of 1,115 military personnel have regrouped in Asmara while 112 have gathered in Assab.