Djibouti summons int’l community over row with Eritrea

02 May 2008, Djibouti (APA)-- Djibouti has summoned the international community to engage in settling its border dispute with Eritrea, the country’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Mahamoud Ali Youssouf told a news conference.

Youssouf Wednesday said the row has been referred to the Arab League, to IGAD, to the African Union and the United Nations Security Council.

A "fact-finding commission from these international bodies were expected in the coming days" to the two countries the envoy said.

"The Republic of Djibouti has taken this action after noticing the total breach in communication and the refusal of the Eritrean government to enter into any dialogue", Youssouf explained.

He said "all political and diplomatic means at the regional and international level are now welcome in order to settle the border issue for good."

"Eritreans have moved back, but they are still on a portion of the Djiboutian territory," the diplomat charged, but other independent sources say the two armies are "silently" facing each other.

Djibouti denounced an Eritrean incursion on its territory on April 16.

AAY/ib/ovh/tjm/APA 2008-04-30