Senior US official to visit Eritrea ASMARA, Dec 3 (AFP) --

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Donald Yamamoto was due in Eritrea late Friday for a two-day visit, officials said.

"We don't want to publicise this visit," said a member of the US embassy, who did not wish to give further details.

"Mr. Yamamoto's visit has been planned a long time ago and has nothing to do with recent events," an Eritrean government spokesperson told AFP, referring to last week's acceptance "in principle" by Ethiopia of a previously rejected ruling over the path of the disputed Ethiopian-Eritrean border.

The two countries fought a war over the border from 1998 to 2000.

"Mr. Yamamoto already came to Eritrea in 2003. This time, he should stay here two days," said Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki's Chief of Staff, Yemane Gebremeskel, on the phone in Asmara.

Yemane did not say whom Yamamoto would meet or which issues would be discussed with the Eritrean authorities.

"It is interesting to note that the US are among the few members of the international community who haven't commented on last week's declaration by Ethiopia," pointed out a Western diplomat in Asmara, who asked to remain anonymous.

"It's probably because they don't want to annoy the Eritrean President."

Numerous members of the international community, including the European Union, have welcomed the Ethiopian declaration, saying it is a positive step towards the border's demarcation.

But Asmara has declared that the new Ethiopian position is merely a ploy to buy time.

After George W. Bush was re-elected to the White House in November, President Isaias announced: "We are reassured by your re-election, as it will add more vigour to the war against international terrorism."

Eritrea, like Ethiopia, was also one of the few African countries to support the US invasion of Iraq to overthrow President Saddam Hussein.

But relations between Asmara and Washington are sometimes lukewarm, as in September when the US State Department published a report accusing Eritrea of not respecting religious freedom, charges that were firmly rejected by Asmara.