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[7 November 2006] - Eritrea has ordered two more aid agencies to leave the country, after expelling at least nine others in the past year. The latest two are the International Rescue Committee and the Samaritans' Purse, both of which used Eritrea as a base for work in eastern Sudan. The Eritrean government said their work was no longer needed following a recent peace deal for eastern Sudan. Eritrea has repeatedly warned of the dangers of aid dependency. Correspondents say it is suspicious of the international community. Last year, it introduced new laws making aid agencies pay tax on all imports even though donors said about a third of the population needed food aid. "They were asked to terminate their operation, because when there is a conducive atmosphere in that place, you don't need to create such cross-border operations," Information Minister Ali Abdu told the AFP news agency. "We are grateful for what they did but since there is no need ... we kindly ask them to stop." More information