61.  Eritrean forces captured the main island of Hanish al-Kabir from Yemen in December during three days of fighting which left nine soldiers dead.

62.  Eritrean forces have withdrawn after occupying a disputed strategic Red Sea island for more than two weeks, defusing tensions with Yemen, a UN spokeswoman announced here Wednesday.

63.  Eritrean forces seized the island, north of the Bab al-Mandab straits, after three-days of fighting.

64.  The volcanic Hanish al-Kabir fell to Eritrean forces after a three-day battle in which nine soldiers were killed.

65.  The Yemeni government said Eritrean forces captured the island on Monday despite a ceasefire.

66.  Yemeni troops have clashed with Eritrean forces trying to occupy a disputed island at the mouth of the Red Sea, a Yemeni military official said Wednesday.

67.  Yemeni naval patrols clashed with Eritrean forces, he said.

68.  Yemeni warplanes on Tuesday launched a new wave of attacks to dislodge Eritrean forces from a disputed Red Sea island they captured on Monday, diplomats said.

69.  Israel denied any involvement in the dispute following earlier charges by Yemeni officials that it supported Eritrean forces.