Clinton warns Eritrea against meddling in Somalia

NAIROBI, Kenya (CNN) - The United States will "take action" against the small African nation of Eritrea if it does not stop meddling in neighboring Somalia, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday.

"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.

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

Eritrea denies the allegation.

Clinton vowed to continue U.S. support for the government of Somalia's transitional president, Sheikh Sharif 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 U.S. Embassy in the Kenyan capital.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Robert Wood would not elaborate on Clinton's warning, but said the Obama administration believes Eritrea is supplying weapons to the Al-Shabaab movement "and we'll continue to push them to stop."