Ethiopia says an international commission's demarcation of the Ethiopian - Eritrean border favors Addis Ababa. 

Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesin praised the Hague-based commission's decision as a clear victory. He says the most disputed areas (Zela Ambessa, Aiga, Alitena Irob, and others) were awarded to Ethiopia. 

But Eritrea disputes the Ethiopian statements and says the decision vindicates Eritrea. In a statement, the Eritrean government also called the decision a victory for the people of both Ethiopia and Eritrea. 

The boundary decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration is meant to end a bitter war between the Horn of Africa rivals that has claimed 80,000 lives. The commission will not make the decision public until Monday. 

The decision comes 16 months after the end of two years of fighting. 

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan praised the decision and called on both countries to implement it as soon as possible. 

A U.N. boundary commission was established after Eritrea and Ethiopia signed a formal peace deal in December 2000. U.N. peacekeepers have been patrolling the border zone since then and officials say they will remain until the physical demarcation is completed. 

Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.

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