Bali Island, Indonesia, Sha'ban 22, 1432, Jul 23, 2011, SPA - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday urged countries involved in territorial disputes over the South China Sea to exercise restraint and avoid the threat of force. Hillary Clinton, addressing a regional security forum in Bali, Indonesia, said recent incidents in the South China Sea not only threatened peace and stability, but also posed risks to economic development. "They should exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability," she told foreign ministers and diplomats from 26 countries attending the Association of South-East Asian Nations' (ASEAN) Regional Forum, according to a report of the German Press Agency "DPA". --SPA 14:44 LOCAL TIME 11:44 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/912899