Algeria says won't host a U.S. base on its territory (Reuters)

[Eugene]

Algeria says won't host a U.S. base on its territory

Sat Mar 3, 6:41 AM ET

ALGIERS (Reuters) - Algeria said on Saturday its cooperation with Washington's war
on terrorism was "profitable" but it would never agree to host a U.S. military base
on its territory.

The United States has conducted joint training exercises in countries around the
Sahel as part of the "Trans-Saharan Counter Terrorism Initiative" to counter
militancy in the region.

-snip-

This month, President George W. Bush also authorized the creation of a new
Africa Command, under which future African continental operations would be
conducted.

"I can confirm that Algeria has a fruitful cooperation with the United States in the
fight against terrorism. Both sides see it as profitable for the security of the two
countries as well as for other countries," Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohamed
Bedjaoui told state radio.

"The Algerian territory is absolutely not concerned by the implementation of the
American African command ... To be clear, Algeria will never accept a foreign
military base on its land."

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070303/wl_nm/algeria_usa_dc

(Associated Press)

Algeria says it won't allow U.S. command

Sat Mar 3, 10:14 AM ET

ALGIERS, Algeria - The Algerian government would reject any U.S. request to set up
a new military command center for Africa in Algeria, the foreign minister said Saturday.

Foreign Minister Mohammed Bedjaoui sought to dispel speculation in Algerian media
that the country could be asked to host a new U.S. command for Africa sought by
President Bush.

Algeria "won't accept military bases on its territory — no matter which country they
belong to," Bedjaoui told state radio, adding that "no country has made any requests
in that direction."

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070303/ap_on_re_af/algeria_us

[acmavm]

1. So take that georgie!