Kenya kicks out Eritrea diplomat

• Foreign minister flies in as embassy official and trader expelled over ‘security’ fears

Meddling in Somalia

Mrs Clinton said the United States would “take action” against Eritrea if it did not stop meddling in neighbouring Somalia.

“With respect to Eritrea, we are making it very clear that their actions are unacceptable, their interference with the rights of the Somali people are at the height of misplaced efforts and funding and we intend to take action if they do not cease,” Clinton said at a joint news conference with Somalia’s new president, whose government is waging a bloody battle against an Islamic insurgency — with some help from the United States.

Mrs Clinton did not specify what kind of action Washington might take. But the UN Security Council is reportedly considering sanctions against Eritrea, which it says may be arming Islamic militants now battling Somalia’s transitional government.

Mrs Clinton vowed to continue US support for the government of Somalia’s transitional president Sheikh Ahmed, against the insurgents, some of whom Washington says have ties to the al Qaeda terrorist network.

“The United States and the international community must serve as an active partner in helping the TFG (Transitional Federal Government) and the people of Somalia confront and ultimately move beyond the conflict and poverty that have gripped their country,” Clinton told reporters at the US Embassy.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Robert Wood would not elaborate on Clinton’s warning, but said the Obama administration believes Eritrea is supplying arms to militant groups.

The Somalia fighting has killed 250 civilians and forced more than 160,000 people to flee their homes in June alone.

Internally displaced persons in Somalia are estimated at over one million in a country of eight million. They lack food, emergency relief supplies, and essential health, shelter, and water, sanitation and hygiene services.

Kenya, which has experienced two terrorist attacks in the last decade, has been concerned about security on the border with Somalia since al-Shabaab started making gains against the government of President Sheikh Ahmed.

Eritrea has consistently denied supporting any factions in Somalia which is torn by civil wars.