The United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) has signed a protocol agreement with Eritrea outlining "rules of interaction" between UN peacekeepers and Eritrean security personnel in the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ). According to a statement from UNMEE, the agreement was signed on Tuesday by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Legwaila Joseph Legwaila, and the Eritrean Commissioner for Coordination with UNMEE, Amdeberhan Woldegiorgis.

The agreement stipulates that all members of UNMEE have "complete freedom of movement" within the 25 km-wide TSZ, and that there is to be "no interference" in the activities of the peacekeepers by any party, be they police, militia, customs or immigration officials. The agreement covers issues such as the types of arms which may be carried by police and militia in the TSZ, and provides for the stockpiling of prohibited weaponry, according to UNMEE. The establishment of the TSZ is part of a peace agreement signed between Eritrea and Ethiopia in December last year ending the two-year border war.