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2 Thumbs up, way up ....

Source: Reuters

Meseret Defar of Ethiopia waves her country's flag after winning the women's 3,000 meter run in a time of eight minutes, 30.05 seconds at the Boston Indoor Games in Boston, Massachusetts January 29, 2005. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi REUTERS

Way to go Sister ..................

Ethiopian Woman Sets World Record in 5,000
By ELLIOTT DENMAN

Published: January 30, 2005

OSTON, Jan. 30 - Ejegayehu Dibaba of Ethiopia outclassed her competition, which included younger sister Tirunesh Dibaba, to win the women's 5,000 meters in world-record time Saturday at the Boston Indoor Games.

Her finish in 14 minutes 32.93 seconds demolished the indoor world record of 14:39.29 by another Ethiopian, Berhane Adere, set last year in Germany. Dibaba collected a $25,000 bonus for the performance.

Cheered on by many Ethiopian fans in the crowd of 4,000, the 22-year-old Ejegayehu Dibaba, the silver medalist in the 10,000 at the Athens Olympics, ran the final 1,000 meters in 2:46.7 at the Reggie Lewis Track and Field Center.

"The money was not a major thought for me," she said. "The fans made me run faster. Two months ago, my training was not going well and I never thought I could do such a thing. Then things changed. I will go home with some very good memories."

Tirunesh Dibaba, 19, a bronze medalist in the 5,000 in Athens, kept pace through 3,000 meters. She then settled for a distant second in 14:58.25. The former Stanford star Lauren Fleshman was third in 15:35.25.

"Just being in a world-record race, that was awesome," Fleshman said.

In the men's shot-put competition, the former Dartmouth star Adam Nelson, the Olympic silver medalist, won with a distance of 71 feet, ¾ inches, over Christian Cantwell (68-8½) and John Godina (67-10¼), both of the United States.

Jerry Harris of Alexandria, Va., surged off the third of four turns to win the men's 400 in 46.82 seconds.

"I'm planning to make this a breakthrough year," Harris, a graduate of Texas Christian, said before referring to his performance at last year's Olympic trials. "I ran eighth at the trials, and that's a frustrating place to finish."

The top six went on to the Athens Games.

"But 46 is still pretty good to open my season," he said. "Best I ever opened with in college was in the 47's."

Bershawn Jackson, a student at St. Augustine College and one of the world's top 400 hurdlers, was second in 47.32. Jimmie Hackley of the Shore Athletic Club in New Jersey was third in 47.52.

Here you go, US Department of State advised Americans on Ethiopia Travel. This really sucks!!! What do you think? Read the content below

Source: Yahoo News (AP)

WASHINGTON - The State Department on Friday advised Americans that heightened security will be in place for celebrations in Ethiopia next month of the 60th anniversary of Bob Marley's birth.

The measures include increased checks for illegal weapons and drugs at ports and border crossings.

Ethiopian officials estimate 500,000 people, many from overseas, will attend the festivities honoring the Jamaican reggae legend.

"Americans traveling in Ethiopia during this time are reminded that traffic and public transportation in the vicinity of the festivities concentrated in downtown Addis Ababa are likely to be affected," the State Department said.

Americans should be prepared for security checks and have their U.S. passports available, the advisory said. It said they should also register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or consulate at https://travelregistration.state.gov.

The advisory also pointed out that possession of marijuana is punishable in the African nation by up to six months in prison.

Marley was a Rastafarian, a faith whose followers preach a oneness with nature, grow their hair uncombed into dreadlocks and smoke marijuana as a sacrament. Ethiopia's last emperor, Haile Selassie, led the Rastafarian movement.

Marley died in Miami in 1981 at the age of 36.

Bob's widow Rita Marley in Addis picture above.

ADDIS ABABA (AFP) - The mother of Jamaican reggae legend Bob Marley arrived to attend final preparations for next month's commemoration of her late son's birthday anniversary in Ethiopia.

AFP/File Photo

Cedella Marley Booker, 80, arrived from Miami, Florida and was greeted on arrival by Marley's widow, Rita Marley, who has been here since January 6.

Some 200,000 visitors are expected to attend the special "Africa Unite" event, named after one of the reggae star's hit songs and due to kick off February 1, to mark what would have been his 60th birthday.

Bob Marley, who died of cancer in 1981 at the age 36, visited Ethiopia in 1979.

The late Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie is regarded as the spiritual leader of the Rastafarian movement which Bob Marley espoused and Ethiopia as the cradle of that movement.

Throughout February, concerts, exhibitions and conferences will be held in Addis Ababa and nearby Shashemene as part of the commemoration. The highlight of the commemoration will be a giant free concert in Addis Ababa's Meskel Square on February 6, to be attended by leading African music stars, including Senegal's Youssou N'Dour and Benin's Angelique Kidjo.

Two weeks ago, Bob Marley and Rita Marley Foundations denied press reports that the widow of the reggae legend planned to have his body exhumed from his Jamaican burial ground and entombed in Ethiopia.

According to the reports, Marley's widow, Rita, had said during a visit to Ethiopia that she planned to have her husband's remains taken from Jamaica, where he was born, and reburied in his "spiritual home" of Ethiopia.

But a representative of the Rita Marley Foundation later told Jamaican reporters there was no plan to remove Marley's body from his burial place in the rural district of Nine Miles in St Ann on the northeast coast of Jamaica.

Born in 1945 in St Ann, Marley rose from the gritty shantytowns of Kingston to global stardom with hits such as "No Woman, No Cry," "Get Up, Stand Up," "Africa Unite," "One Love" and "I Shot the Sheriff."

In December, speakers at the 60th birthday press launch recommended that Marley be named a national hero of Jamaica and there be a holiday to commemorate his musical achievements.

African migrants face negative stereotypes
Wed Jan 26, 2005 12:39 PM GMT

By Tsegaye Tadesse
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has urged the world to ditch negative stereotypes of African migrants as potential "terrorists" and recognise the vital role they play in rich countries' economies.

An estimated 80,000 professionals who leave the continent each year seeking higher salaries are often surprised to find themselves facing the same kind of suspicions attracted by illegal African immigrants seeking new lives abroad.

More at Reuters site

Don't forget to check our news section, where you can read all this week's ethiopian news. Just Ethiopian news.

የኢትዮጵያ ታዳጊ ቡድን ሩጫ በጊዜ ተገታ
በቅርቡ ለሚካሄደው የአፍሪካ ታዳጊዎች ውድድር የምድብ ተካፋይ የሆነው የኢትዮጵያ ታዳጊ ቡድን፣ በጋና ቡድን በአጠቃላይ 4.2 በሆነ ውጤት ተሸንፎ ከውድድር ውጭ መሆኑ ተረጋገጠ። ሁለቱ ቡድኖች ለ15 ቀናት አዲስ አበባ ስታድየም ባደረጉት የመጀመሪያ ጨዋታ፣ የኢትዮጵያ ታዳጊ ቡድን 2-1 በሆነ ጠባብ ውጤት ማሸነፉ የሚዘነጋ አይደለም። የኢትዮጵያ ቡድን ከአስራ አምስት ቀናት አስቀድሞ በሜዳው ባደረገው የመጀመሪያ ጨዋታ፣ በጋና ቡድን 1-0 ተመርቶ የነበረ ቢሆንም፣ በፋአድና በሳሙኤል አማካኝነት (አንደኛዋ በፍፁም ቅጣት ምት የተቆጠረችውን ሁለት ጎሎችን አስቆጥሮ በጠባብ ውጤት ማሸነፉ፣ በቀጣዩ የመልስ ጨዋታ ለማሸነፍ እጅግ የጠበበ መሆኑና ጋናዎች አሸንፈው ወደ ቀጣዩ ዙር ለማለፍ ምንም እንደማይቸግራቸው የቡድኑ ዋና አሰልጣኝ ገልጸው ነበር። አሰልጣኙ ያሉት አልቀረም - የኢትዮጵያ ቡድን ከትላንትና በስቲያ ከጋና ዋና አሰልጣኝ ገልጸው ነበር።አሰልጣኙ ያሉት አልቀረም የኢትዮጵያ ቡድን ክትላንትና በስቲያ ከጋና ዋና ከተማ ሶስት መቶ ኪሎ ሜትር ርቃ በምትገኝ ከተማ ባደረገው ጨዋታ 3-0 በሆነ ውጤት ሊያሸንፍ ችሏል።ሁለቱ ቡድኖች የመጀመሪያውን የጨዋታ ክፍለ ጊዜ በጋና ቡድን 1-0 መሪነት የተለያዩ ሲሆን፣ ጋናዎች ከእረፍት መልስ ባስቆጠሯቸው 2 ተጨማሪ ግቦች በአጠቃላይ የጨዋታው ክፍለ ጊዜ 3-0 በሆነ ውጤት ሲያሸንፉ፣ በደርሶ መልስ የጨዋታ 4-2 በሆነ ውጤት ሲያሸንፉ፣ በደርሶ መልስ የጨዋታ 4-2 በሆነ ውጤት አሸንፈው ወደ ቀጣዩ ዙር ለማለፍ ችለዋል። ዘንድሮ ሀገራችንን ወክሎ በአፍሪካ ታዳጊዎች ሻምፒዮና ላይ የተሳተፈው ቡድን እስካሁን በተመሳሳይ መልኩ ከተዋቀሩት ቡድኖች በዕድሜ ተቀራራቢ የሆኑ ተጨዋቾች በማዋቀሩ ረገድ የተሻለ መሆኑን ለማየት ተችሏል።ከእነዚህ በተጓዳኝም፣ ለቡድኑ ከተመረጡት አምስት ያህል ተጫዋቾች ከአሰልጣኞቹ ፍላጎት ውጭ በትዕዛዝ፣ ቡድኑን መቀላቀላቸውን የደረሰን መረጃ ያስረዳል።በጉዳዩ ዙሪያ ባደረግነው ማጣታ፣ በቅድሚያ ለኢትዮጵያ ታዳጊ ብሄራዊ ቡድን ተመርጠው የነበሩት አምስት ተጫዋቾች ከቡድኑ እንዲቀነሱ ተደርገው፣ በምትኩ በትዕዛዝ ከደደቢት ታዳጊዎች ፕሮጀክት አምስት ተጫዋቾች ቡድኑ ውስጥ እንዲቀላቀል መደረጋቸውን ለማረጋገጥ ተችሏል። ይህ ሁኔታ ደግሞ በአሰልጣኞች ሥራ ጣልቃ ገብነት እንደነበር ቁልጭ አድርጐ የሚያስረዳ ነው።

ከእነዚህ የታዳጊ ቡድን ዜና ሳንወጣ፣ የኢትዮጵያ ታዳጊ ቡድን ወደ ጋና ባደረገው ጉዞ፣ ሁለት የኖርማላይዜሽን ኮሚቴ አባሎች አብረው መጓዛቸውን ለማወቅ ተችሏል። ከቡድኑ ጋር ወደ ጋና ያመሩት የኖርማላይዜሽን ኮሚቴ አባሎች አቶ አርአያ ተስፋዬና ኢንስትራክተር ሽፈራው እሸቱ (ጴጥሮ&#4661 ናቸው።

Financial Time
The fall of an African promised land
By John Ryle
Published: January 25 2005 20:39 | Last updated: January 25 2005 20:39

I DIDN’T DO IT FOR YOU
How the World Betrayed A Small African nation
By Michela Wrong
Fourth Estate, £16.99

In 1995, the Tigrayan People's Liberation Movement celebrated its 20th anniversary in Mekelle, in northern Ethiopia, near the border with Eritrea. There were two guests of honour: Meles Zenawi, long-time leader of the TPLF, elected president of Ethiopia after the defeat of the Derg regime in 1992; and Isaias Afewerke, leader of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front, president of the newly independent state of Eritrea, formerly an Ethiopian province. The two guerrilla movements had fought together to defeat the Derg, then - unprecedentedly - agreed to an amicable secession. In western diplomatic circles, Meles and Isaias were being touted as a new breed of African statesman. That evening on the outskirts of Mekelle, I watched as Meles, Isaias and other guests, serenaded by Mahmud Ahmed, a veteran Ethiopian pop star, danced together in the moonlight.

The scene is unlikely to be repeated on the TPLF's 30th anniversary this year. Africa's velvet divorce took only a few years to unravel. In 1998, the Eritrean army moved into a border area administered by Ethiopia. Ethiopia retaliated by bombing the Eritrean capital, Asmara, a jewel of Italian- inspired modernist architecture. The Eritrean air force bombed Mekelle. And Ethiopia reduced sections of the Red Sea port of Massawa to rubble. The conflict, as Michela Wrong explains, has been economically ruinous for both countries: Eritrea depends on Ethiopia for trade, while Ethiopia is landlocked without access to the Red Sea. A United Nations monitoring force has kept the peace since 2001 but the stand-off is not over. Meanwhile the political situation within Eritrea has worsened. Isaias Afewerke, the physically imposing, hard-drinking president and former guerrilla leader, has arrested dozens of his erstwhile comrades-in-arms and closed down the independent press. It seems that Eritrea, once an African Catalonia, a promised land for a generation of anti-colonial solidarity movements, is turning into a basket-case.

In I Didn't Do It For You, Wrong takes us into the history of this remote, arduous region, where a succession of African and European powers have claimed sovereignty. "It's hard to think of another African country," she writes, "that was interfered with by foreign powers quite so thoroughly and so disastrously." Eritrea is itself the creation of colonialism: the Italian invasion in 1886 gave it a single name, from the Latin for the Red Sea. Italy also transformed communications in its new colony with a railway from Massawa to Asmara, a marvel of engineering that ascends 7,000 feet. But Mussolini's decision to invade Ethiopia in 1935 undid any good work by the Italians. Tens of thousands of Eritrean soldiers - forefathers of the EPLF guerrilla fighters - were cannon fodder in a campaign to link Eritrea with the Italian colony of Somalia, creating a new Roman empire in Africa. In 1942, British imperial forces destroyed the Duce's vision with a giant pincer movement from Kenya and Sudan. The campaign culminated in a contest for the heights of Keren on the Eritrean plateau, as unrelenting a battle as Monte Cassino, described here with exemplary vividness.

The British administration that followed misappropriated, by Wrong's reckoning, a large part of Eritrea's industrial capacity, shipping it off for the war effort elsewhere. Then, with Haile Selassie restored to the throne, the country was handed back to Ethiopia. The insurgency against his rule continued after the Derg deposed him in 1974. At this point, the Soviet Union entered, choking the region with Warsaw Pact weaponry. The war ended only with the collapse of the Soviet empire and the Derg's defeat in 1992.

Wrong's earlier book, In the Footsteps of Mr Kurtz,described the interplay of home-grown tyranny and western greed in the Congo. This book is likewise strong on the grotesque aspects of the foreign presence in the Horn of Africa. She also pays tribute to the heroic quality of the Eritrean resistance - the ascetism of EPLF cadres, with their afro hairdos and sandals, an image of struggle so beguiling to western visitors. She could have said more, perhaps, about the ethnic and religious composition of the Eritrean polity. The country is neither culturally nor linguistically uniform. It is dominated, like Ethiopia, by Christian highlanders, but half the population is Muslim. And Eritrea's strategic position on the Red Sea means that, in the age of global terrorism, there is little chance of respite from outside interference. Ethiopia and Eritrea are both big clients for US humanitarian aid and military assistance. Even so, US diplomats have been unable to reconcile the two countries. This book should be on their reading list.

The writer chairs the Rift Valley Institute, a research organisation working in Eastern Africa

Friday, January 21, 2005 Posted: 1653 GMT (0053 HKT)

Gebrselassie quit the track after the Olympic 10,000m in Athens

Twice Olympic 10,000 meters champion Haile Gebrselassie will compete in the London marathon on April 17 if he successfully completes a half-marathon in nine days' time.

Ethiopian Gebrselassie, 31, retired from the track after finishing fifth in last year's Athens Olympics 10,000m final.

If he does compete in London, Gebrselassie will run against his arch-rival and world record holder Paul Tergat of Kenya.

Tergat, the five times world cross country champion, finished second to Gebrselassie in the 10,000m at two Olympic Games and two world championships.

Gebrselassie came third on his marathon debut in the 2002 London race behind American Khalid Khannouchi, who set a then world record of two hours five minutes 38 seconds. Tergat was second.

"This would be massive boost for London," said race director David Bedford.

"Haile never gives less than 100 percent and we hope he comes though the half-marathon test with flying colours."

Tunisia 2-1 Morocco
Match action
An error from Morocco keeper Khalid Fouhami gifted Tunisia their first-ever African Cup of Nations title.

Striker Ziad Jaziri poked home the winner six minutes after the break when Fouhami fumbled Jose Clayton's low cross into the penalty area.

Tunisia took the lead after just four minutes when Francileudo dos Santos finished off Mehdi Nafti's cross.

Morocco bounced back just before half-time when Youssef Mokhtari headed in Youssef Hadji's clipped centre.

Defeat for Morocco was hard on an unfancied side, whose young attack, which included Youssef Mokhtari, Youssef Hadji and Marouane Chamakh dazzled defences during the three weeks of competition.

In the final though, that trio and the rest of Morocco's attacking force was well shackled by a tough Tunisia defence, marshalled by Ajax's Hatem Trabelsi.

More photos from the final
Morocco's backline also proved stubborn resistance in a match which produced few clear-cut scoring opportunities.

That said, it took only four minutes for Morocco's defence to be exposed when the hard-working Nafti flighted in a superb cross from the right-wing which the relatively diminutive Dos Santos nodded into the goal.

A frenetic few minutes followed, as Tunisia pressed forward for a second.

Sochaux midfielder Adel Chedli picked a bad time to leave his shooting boots at home when he blasted high and wide from another Nafti centre.

A battle in the middle of the Stade Rades pitch followed with Tunisia looking to shut up shop as early as midway through the first-half, with Morocco seeking a way back into the match.

I congratulate Tunisia on their victory. Nonetheless, Nigeria to me are better!

From Ikenna Onyegbula
Have your say on 606

And with just a few minutes left before the interval break it seemed that Roger Lemerr's side had stifled all Morocco had to offer.

However, Hadji, who has shone in almost every game at this Cup of Nations, had another plans.

The brother of the more illustrious Mustapha, delivered a carefully weighted cross which eluded all but Mokhtari who sent his bullet header past keeper Ali Boumnijel.

Game on. But such was 100mph feeling of the opening half, things had to slow down.

The tempo did, but somebody obviously forgot to tell Fouhami that he still had to keep his reactions sharp.

The keeper has shone throughout the tournament for Morocco having conceded just two goals before the final, but his blunder for Tunisia's second is what he will be remembered for in this tournament.

Tunisia and Morocco fought a tense battle
Clayton, who earlier tested the keeper with a wicked volley, delivered a softly struck cross into the six-yard-area.

Fouhami inexplicably failed to collect the ball, leaving Jaziri to take advantage and tap in.

It was expected that a Morocco onslaught was to follow, but that never occured.

The Atlas Lions were a spent force. The youthful vigour had finally run out of steam.

For Lemerre's Tunisia though, their dogged determination in all areas of the pitch, proved to be enough on the day.

Of course, had Fouhami not fumbled, it may have been a different story.

Experts say poverty is thriving in urban areas

By Fitsum W.giorgis

The states of national and urban poverty have conflicting features that come along with urbanization in Ethiopia, researchers said.

A study conducted by Dr. Aklilu Kidanu, Director of Miz-Hasab Research Center, revealed that the recent figures of poverty are down by 2.9% in Ethiopia, leaving urban poverty increasing by 11% from 1995 to 2000. "The uneven distribution of population in the country is causing a major challenge in exacerbating urban dependency," Dr Aklilu noted

Read full article on Reporter's site. And discuss what should be done with fellow visitors here

Corporation launches expansion of optical fiber highway
Adama (aka Nazret) Editor's note
1/24/2005

The Ethiopian Telecommunication Corporation (ETC) has launched extension of Optical Fiber Highway at a cost of over 500 million birr in a bid to improve the quality and efficiency of communication services across the nation.

Extension of 4,000-km optical fiber highway has begun town in eight directions connecting Addis Ababa city to the various towns of the Southeast Region, manager of the optical fiber highway project with the corporation, Alemga Woldeyohannis said.

The manager made the statement on Saturday at the launching of the extension of the optical fiber highway project at Mojo town of the Oromia State.

The manager said the French Alcatel, German Seimens and Chinese CITT Companies are expected to complete the extension of the optical fiber highway until late this Ethiopian fiscal year.

Some 365 million of the stated sum would be used for procurement of audio and video equipments while the balance goes to human power and other expenses, the manager said.

According to the manager, the execution of the infrastructure would complement national efforts geared toward bringing about speedy economic development.

Acting Manager of the Telecom Network Services Department with the Corporation, Taye Kebede said on the occasion the execution of the project would enable the corporation render efficient and quality communication services to the public for the coming 20 years.

Taye said the execution of the project would improve the capacity of the corporation in expanding the regular, mobile, internet as well as television broadcasting services across the country.

Source: ENA

Michael Howard put asylum and immigration firmly at the heart of the general election campaign today, pledging to introduce Australia's model of a points system for economic migrants and an annual quota for refugees - even if that meant opting out of the UN convention.
Sounding an ominous tone, the Conservative leader told a pre-election press conference, "Britain has reached a turning point. The pace of change is too great."

Read full article at the guardian

Any Ethiopians in UK seeking asylum might find the article of interest. Talk about it here.

Tariku Bekele out-sprints Zewdie in Elgoibar
Sunday 23 January 2005
Elgoibar, Spain - Ethiopia’s Tariku Bekele captured a thrilling sprint victory at the “62nd Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza” held today. Bekele beat his countryman Maregu Terefe Zewdie, who secured a one-two for Ethiopia, in an unforgettable final sprint. This was the second win for the Bekele brothers, as Kenenisa won this race back in 2003. In the women’s race today, Kenyan Alice Timbilil was the easy victor.

Did you listen to BBC interview with Meles Zenawi.
If not check it out at http://www.nazret.com and leave a comment below.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/4200271.stm

gypt, Morocco into final four
The Morocco under 20 team
Morocco are through to the semi finals of the African Youth Championship
Defending champions Egypt and Morocco qualified from Group B for the semi-finals of the African Youth Championship in Benin on Sunday.

Morocco edged out Angola 1-0 at the Rene Pleven Stadium while on the other side of Cotonou, Egypt easily beat Lesotho 4-1 at the Friendship Stadium.

The Egyptians raced into a two goal lead in the opening 12 minutes of their match.

Abdalllah Abdou opened the scoring in the seventh minute and Ahmed Farag doubled the lead just five minutes later.

The other three goals of the match all came in the final fifteen minutes of the second-half.

Abdallah Mohammed extended Egpyt's lead to 3-0 in the 75th minute before Mahmoud Alla Fadl put the game beyond doubt with an 82nd minute strike.

Lesotho got a late consolation through a penalty converted by Lintho Korie.

Morocco secured their semi-final place with their narrow win over Angola as Mouhssine Iajour grabbed the only goal of the game in the 39th minute.

The results mean that Egypt win Group B thanks to a better goal difference over Morocco with both sides on seven points from their three matches.

Lesotho, who were playing in their first ever continental finals, finished third in the group with three points while the Angolans return home without securing a single point.

In Wednesday's semi-finals Egypt face Group A runners-up Benin while Morocco face Group A winners Nigeria, who have won all their matches in the tournament so far.

All four semi-finalists automatically qualify for Fifa's World Youth Championships in Holland in June.

Ethiopia-Eritrea: Military Officer Says Troop Movements Near Border 'Provocative'

UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
NEWS
January 21, 2005
Posted to the web January 21, 2005
Addis Ababa

A senior Eritrean military official has dismissed guarantees that Ethiopian troop movements near their common border were purely defensive, according to the United Nations.

Eritrean Col Zecarias Ogbagaber said he believed the troop deployment was "provocative", the UN peacekeeping mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) said.

His comments came at the 28th Military Coordination Commission (MCC) meeting hosted by UNMEE to try and ensure peace between the two sides on Monday.

Ogbagaber "expressed serious concerns about the movement of additional Ethiopian troops towards the northern border of Ethiopia", UNMEE said in a statement.

"He said that he did not consider these deployments defensive in nature and interpreted them to be provocative," the statement added. Ogbagaber also "expressed the hope that with the beginning of a new year, there would be fresh impetus, which [would] help move the peace process forward".

Ethiopian Gen Yohannes Gebremeskel stressed "the redeployment of Ethiopian army troops along the Eritrean border was a purely defensive measure and part of the reorganisation process of the army".

Ethiopia first announced in December it would redeploy troops near the border region, providing details to the UN peacekeeping force. UNMEE force commander, Maj-Gen Rajender Singh told the MCC that the military situation remained "stable and calm".

Singh said he was "fairly satisfied" with the security situation and urged both countries not to take any steps that would jeopardise the situation. He also added that the "sanctity and the stability" of the 25-km demilitarised zone was being "maintained effectively" by the 3,800 UN peacekeepers.

On 13 January, he told reporters that the movements did not indicate that Addis Ababa was preparing for a new war with its neighbour, adding that the Ethiopians were merely strengthening their defences in Badme and Zalambesa - two disputed areas where fierce fighting occurred during their two-year border conflict.

"I am of the opinion that no large-scale mobilisation on the Ethiopian side is taking place," Singh said. "I am also of the opinion that considering the movement of troops on both sides - it does not seem that they are preparing for any conflict situation."

According to UNMEE, the MCC discussions were held in a "cordial and a constructive environment". Both countries expressed their willingness to cooperate fully with UNMEE, the peacekeeping force added.

Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a two and a half-year border war between May 1998 and December 2000 in which tens of thousands of people were killed. Although a peace deal was agreed, tensions remain over their still disputed common frontier.

Recently, a UN envoy said millions of people had remained in abject poverty as a result of the impact of the border dispute. Lloyd Axworthy said both impoverished nations were missing vital trade and social opportunities that would lift millions out of their dire economic situation.

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations ]

Ethiopia is up 20 in FIFA ranking. Ethiopian Team now ranks 129 in the world.

1 Brazil
2 Czech Republic
3 Argentina
4 Netherlands
5 France

128 Faroe Islands
129 Ethiopia
130 Palestine
130 Tahiti
169 Eritrea
189 Somalia
201 Djibouti
Check the rankings here

FIFA Complete Rankings