Britain calls for sanctions against Eritrea

UNITED NATIONS — Britain called Thursday for U.N. sanctions against the tiny Red Sea nation of Eritrea for supplying weapons to opponents of the transitional government in nearby Somalia in violation of a U.N. arms embargo.
The United States, which warned in July that Eritrea could soon face sanctions unless it stops support for Somali extremists, said it was time for the international community to address the country's destabilizing impact on Somalia and the region.
And Russia called on countries in the region not to allow mercenaries and arms into Somalia in violation of sanctions.
The comments at an open meeting of the U.N. Security Council indicated growing interest in punishing Eritrea, which has rejected accusations — including by the Security Council — that it supplied weapons to Islamist opponents of Somalia's Western-backed transitional government.
Britain's U.N. Ambassador John Sawers said his government is concerned that the latest report by U.N. experts monitoring the arms embargo included evidence that Eritrea provided support to opponents of the Somali government.
"Leaders of the African Union have requested the Security Council to impose sanctions against Eritrea in response," he said...more..http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g6ovEYnh-5OJmt106FLTzdG-9eeQD9B798I80