Casualties were high during the border conflict

Both countries have respected the Algiers agreement which halted their two-year-old border war but tensions between the two countries remain high.

Both countries' ruling parties have faced internal political dissent since the end of hostilities resulting in crackdowns, arrests and defections.

And there is a feeling that any heightened state of alert on the border could be a convenient distraction for both heads of state and in particular Eritrea's President Isaias Afewerki.

Eritrean dissent

Within Eritrea, thousands of students are returning to their classes on Monday to begin a new year, following a summer spent in a compulsory work camp.

Two students died of heatstroke as temperatures soared in the camp near the Red Sea port of Assab.

The Eritrean Government has been coming under increasing criticism regarding its harsh treatment of the students, who have been supporting calls for openness within the ruling party and for elections.

A BBC correspondent in Asmara says the capital has changed dramatically during their recess, with government critics being jailed and the free press closed down.

In August, police detained about 400 students who had agitated against the compulsory work programme, including the student leader Samere Kesete.

In September, 11 former members of Eritrea's Government were arrested after criticising Mr Afewerki's handling of the war with Ethiopia.

At the same time, several journalists were detained and privately-run newspapers were shut down.