Ruling Handed Down in Eritrea Border Dispute

Although both sides declared victory in a ruling on their border dispute, jubilation in Ethiopia and a muted mood in Eritrea hinted that the most prized turf may have gone to Ethiopia.

The ruling by neutral experts, published on a U.N. Web site, gives Eritrea large territorial awards in the border’s western sector but hands Ethiopia symbolically important, high-profile towns.

The award to Ethiopia of Badme village, where the 1998-2000 war started, may be a political triumph for Addis Ababa. But once the highly technical ruling is studied, it may be found to have handed Eritrea more land, diplomats said.