Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — The United Nations Thursday disclosed of encountering an "impasse" with Eritrea while trying to establish the temporary security zone (TSZ) for separating Ethiopian and Eritrean forces along the common border.

Both countries had agreed in December on forming the zone to end more than two years of border conflict between them.

In a statement, the UN mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) said it has verified that Ethiopian forces have completely withdrawn from Eritrea to the southern boundary of the TSZ.

The TSZ is a 25-km wide buffer zone between forces of both countries along the entire length of their common border.

The Eritrean side, however, only "rearranged" substantial number of its forces to the northern boundary of the prospective TSZ. "Despite agreement on the deadline of 3rd March for completing this rearrangement, UNMEE finds that a significant concentration of Eritrean troops remains in all three sectors of the future TSZ," the statement said.

Eritrea is said to have been piqued allegedly over Ethiopia's forces not fully withdrawing from its territory.

Earlier, Eritrea claimed the TSZ that UNMEE was to establish, allows Ethiopia to re-deploy its forces to areas, which were not under Addis Ababa's administration before the outbreak of the border conflict.

"The Eritrean authorities have informed UNMEE that the decision to halt rearranging their forces is based on their objection to adjustments made to the original map of the future TSZ as agreed to at the third meeting of the military co- ordination commission," the statement said.

"As a result, UNMEE is not yet able to declare that the TSZ has been formally established."

UNMEE said it was presently engaged trying to revolve "the impasse at the highest level so that the TSZ can be established, and allow for civilians to return to their homes."

To this end, the head of UNMEE and special representative of the UN secretary-general, Legwaila Joseph Legwaila leaves for New York Friday for consultations.

"The establishment of the TSZ is a vital step in the peace process," Legwaila said in the statement.

"We want both parties to move ahead with resolve. A functioning TSZ is a matter of critical importance not only for the affected communities but as a signal to the international community," he added.

UNMEE noted that its verification of the complete withdrawal of Ethiopian forces from Eritrea, had been an important development in the establishment of the prospective TSZ.

The verification process involved "air reconnaissance, vehicle patrols and global positioning satellite measurements across the southern boundary, which is 900-km long."

Meanwhile, UNMEE force commander, Maj.-Gen. Patrick Cammaert said he was "satisfied with the verification of the southern boundary and can now confirm that Ethiopian forces are outside the prospective TSZ."

He stated that the 4,200 observer and peacekeeping force of UNMEE stood in readiness to move in monitor compliance by both parties with the security agreements that would also and enable civilians to return home.