WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- The United States urged on Friday Eritrea and Ethiopia to withdraw their troops from key border areas and show "maximum restraint" to avert a new war.

　　"We are concerned about the military build up and tension on the border between Eritrea and Ethiopia," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a statement.

　　"We call on the governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia to exercise maximum restraint and avoid any actions that might further heighten tension or reignite conflict," he said.

　　It was reported that Eritrea had moved more than 2,500 troops and heavy military equipment into the Eritrea-Ethiopia, while both countries have conducted military exercises along the region.

　　Ethiopia and Eritrea have been at odds since a 1998-2000 bloody border conflict that left some 100,000 dead.