UK Prime Minister to visit Algeria for talks January 30, 2013 - 09:14 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - UK Prime Minister David Cameron is to visit Algeria later in the wake of the hostage crisis that left up to six Britons dead, BBC News reported. The PM will hold talks with his counterpart and the president. Cameron will stress the strategic importance of Algeria in what he has called "the generational struggle" against al-Qaeda in North Africa. The UK is to send 330 military personnel to Algeria's neighbor Mali and West Africa to support French forces battling Islamist militants. The deployment will include as many as 40 military advisers in Mali and 200 British soldiers in neighboring African countries, to help train the Malian army. French-led forces are continuing their offensive against militants who seized northern Mali last year. Cameron will be the first UK prime minister to visit Algeria since its independence in 1962. He will also be attending an international development conference in the Liberian capital, Monrovia. He is expected to hold talks with Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal and President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, with discussions likely to focus on the hostage crisis and the military campaign in Mali.   Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Latest news Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty  Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty.Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza.Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations.Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |
