Annan denounces Eritrea's expulsion of U N staff

WASHINGTON, Sep 7 (Reuters) Secretary-General Kofi Annan has denounced Eritrea's decision to expel five U N security personnel and its arrest of a staff member with the U N's peacekeeping mission there, his chief spokesman said.

''The secretary-general urges the Eritrean authorities to rescind their decision on the U N personnel, release the detained UNMEE staff member, and provide urgent clarification on their actions,'' said a statement by Stephane Dujarric issued yesterday.

The statement said the United Nations would investigate what it called ''the unsubstantiated allegations''.

The United Nations Mission in Eritrea and Ethiopia (UNMEE) monitors the Horn of African neighbours' ,1,000 km border amid continued tensions following their 1998-2000 war, which killed some 70,000 people.

Analysts say Eritrea is frustrated that the United Nations has not forced Ethiopia to comply with a border commission's decision at the end of that conflict that awarded the town of Badme to Eritrea.

Though both sides agreed to abide by the commission's decision, Ethiopia has balked at the decision on Badme.

On Tuesday the Eritrean government posted a message ordering five U N personnel to leave the country within 24 hours.

Annan expressed concern that the government has refused to allow access to the detained UNMEE staff member or to explain the reason for the arrest.

Several staff from the peacekeeping mission were also arrested last week after Eritrean accusations they had tried to smuggle young people out of the country.

The U N statement said Eritrea's actions reflect a ''pattern of hostility'' against the United Nations and contravene the government's obligations as a U N member.

''The secretary-general is dismayed by the Eritrean Government's decision to expel from Eritrea five U N security personnel,'' it said.

''The secretary-general expresses his deep concern about the pattern of hostility at the United Nations in Eritrea, and calls on the government to end its public campaign against UNMEE, and fully cooperate with this important peacekeeping mission and other U N agencies operating in the country.'' REUTERS DKA BS1411