UN, U.S. condemn Eritrean military action at Djibouti border

The United Nations Security Counciljoined the United States on Thursday in calling onthe northeast African nation of Eritrea to withdraw its troops from the border with Djiboutiafter clashes this week killed at leastnine Djiboutians andwounded more than 50 others.

A statement approved by the 15 council membersurged both sides, but "in particular Eritrea,"to refrain from a troop buildup and singled out Eritrea to show "maximum restraint" and withdraw forces from the border. Hostilities have taken placealong Red Sea shipping lanes.

The council called on the nations to resolve their differences "in a manner consistent with international law."

U.S. State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said thehostilities "represent an additional threat to peace and security in the already volatile Horn of Africa."The region is considered strategically important becauseof itskey shipping lanes into the Middle East.

Djibouti on Tuesday accused Eritrea which hasfought two conflicts with its regional neighbourssincegaining independence in 1993 of entering its territory to build defences.

Eritrea dismissed the U.S. criticism and charged that the American government was "currently embroiled in instigating, compounding and inflaming regional conflicts."

This week's violence is the first time in a decade that the two African nations have fought.

The U.S. has more than 1,200 troops stationed in Djibouti, where an anti-terrorism task force for the Horn of Africa is based. France also has a base in Djibouti, its former colony.