The UN Security Council on Friday reiterated its demand that Eritrea lift all restrictions on the operations of the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE).

In a statement read out by the President of the Council Cesar Mayoral of Argentina, the council mourned the death of a Indian peacekeeper after a medical evacuation that took much longer than necessary due to the ban on UN helicopter flights.

"Members of the Council regret that the death occurred in the circumstances of the unacceptable restrictions imposed by the Government of Eritrea on the operations of UNMEE, which have grave implications on the safety of its staff and which must be lifted without further delay," the statement said.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday also called on Eritrea to lift the restrictions, while expressing condolences to the family of the deceased.

Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a bitter border war between 1998 and 2000 and a Temporary Security Zone now separates the two countries. Eritrea has been critical of the United Nations for not forcing Ethiopia to accept the border delineated in 2002.

In addition to the ban on overflights by its helicopters, Eritrea has barred peacekeepers of certain nationalities from its territory and UNMEE patrols face restrictions on their movements.

Source: Xinhua