United Nations peacekeepers were stranded at the weekend in the tense border zone between Eritrea and Ethiopia, with little fuel and dwindling food supplies, as Eritrea defied international demands to allow them to withdraw.

As the 1,700-strong force became mired in the unresolved border dispute between the two east African neighbours, the UN Security Council on Friday condemned the lack of co-operation of the Asmara government and held it responsible for the mission’s safety.