Monitors head for Horn border

The observers have taken armoured cars with them to the frontline

The first United Nations observers have departed for the disputed border between Ethiopia and Eritrea to police a ceasefire.

A first contingent of 15 are reported have flown from the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa for the frontline. A team have also flown from the Eritrean capital, Asmara.

One hundred military observers are being deployed ahead of a 4,000 strong peacekeeping force expected later in the year.

Ethiopia and Eritrea signed a ceasefire accord in Algiers in June to halt a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and uprooted hundreds of thousands.

The observers are to be deployed in three main areas along the 1,000 km disputed border to verify the cessation of hostilities and help prepare for the peacekeeping operation.

They will also facilitate the peacekeeping inside and outside the 25km "security zone" which is on the Eritrean side of the border.

Although a ceasefire has held since the offensive by Ethiopian forces in May, peace talks have not progressed and the UN has expressed concern about the human rights situation.

Human rights

Both countries are home to thousands of each others citizens, and Eritrea has condemned mass deportations from Ethiopia, while Ethiopia has alleged torture in Eritrean internment camps.

While the security conditions in the contested zones have improved, the humanitarian situation remains a cause for major concern

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan

Mr Annan said he has asked UN Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson to recommend how the United Nations might assist addressing human rights concerns.

He said that after discussions with the Ertirean and Ethiopian leaders, he intends to establish a small unit in the UN peacekeeping mission being sent to the border region to follow human rights issues.

"I count on both governments to continue to exercise every restraint in order to prevent any further deterioration of the humanitarian and human rights situation," Mr Annan said.