Eritrea accuses UK envoy of "conspiratorial" acts

ASMARA, July 14 (Reuters) Eritrea accused a British diplomat today of ''conspiratorial activities'', saying the envoy was caught trying to install satellite and communications equipment at the British Council in Asmara.

In a statement on its Information Ministry web site, Eritrea's government said it had ''permitted'' the Ethiopian-based diplomat to leave the Red Sea state following an investigation.

''The Briton working at the British Embassy in Addis Ababa was on a visit to Eritrea, and while here was engaged in conspiratorial activities,'' the statement said.

''(Eritrea) permitted a British national engaged in dubious activities to leave the country following the necessary investigation ... the British diplomat was caught while attempting to install communications equipment and satellites in the guise of the British Council Library.'' Eritrea said yesterday the diplomat had ''violated'' the country's laws but did not give further details until today's statement. Britain's Foreign Office was not immediately available for comment.

The British Council said yesterday that two of its local employees had been arrested, but one then released.

Eritrea did not say if satellite equipment -- used by most embassies -- was illegal, but said it would not get bogged down in diplomatic ''lobbying''.

''The Eritrean government has no intention to get engulfed in futile diplomatic lobbying being carried out by various parties to cover up the matter,'' the online statement said.

''(Eritrea) also called on members of the public to keep their eyes open and hand over individuals engaged in such dubious actions.'' Eritrea has found itself at increasing odds with many Western nations over their support for its arch-foe Ethiopia, analysts say, but Eritrea denies that. The two nations fought a 1998-2000 border war that killed some 70,000 people.

REUTERS CS MIR KP1634