ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- African Union Commission Chairperson Alpha Oumar Konare on Friday expresses his grave concern at renewed military buildup along the border separating Ethiopia and Eritrea.

    "This has the potential to escalate into a military confrontation, with far-reaching implications for the two countries and the region as a whole," Konare said in a statement.

    He urged the two countries "to exercise restraint and to refrain from any action that could have the effect of further aggravating the situation."

    It is reported that there were military movements involving tanks, air defense missiles and troops near their unmarked 1,000 km-long frontier during the past two weeks.

    Earlier last month, Eritrea banned air patrols over a 25 km-long temporary security zone (TSZ) along 1,000 km-long frontier. Eritrea's move increased concerns that the Red Sea state was trying to cover up troop redeployment to launch a possible attack against Ethiopia, diplomats here said.

    Ethiopia says Eritrea's actions on UN flights violated a ceasefire agreement signed by the two countries in 2000 and urges the UN Security Council to enforce it.

    Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles has admitted his country has reinforced its troops on its border with Eritrea as a precautionary measure.

    Under a 2000 peace deal ending their two-year border war, Ethiopia and Eritrea agreed to accept the conclusions of an independent boundary commission on where the border should lie.

    The commission issued its findings in April 2002 and Eritrea fully accepted them. But the process of marking out the new boundary on the ground broke down after Ethiopia objected that the flashpoint western town of Badme had been awarded to Eritrea.

    The border war, which killed more than 70,000 people, began when Ethiopia accused Eritrea of invading Badme.

    In support of the stalled peace process, UN peacekeepers, which now number about 3,000 troops and observers, have been patrolling the TSZ separating the two countries' militaries since July 2000. Enditem