Top U.S. Intelligence Official Visits Algeria

A top U.S. intelligence official had talks in Algiers Saturday ahead of a regional security conference, the official APS news agency reported.

Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Michael Vickers discussed the security situation and U.S.-Algerian cooperation in the fight against terrorism and organized crime with Interior Minister Daho Ould Kablia, it said, quoting a ministry statement.

Meanwhile state radio said that Ould Kablia would attend a ministerial conference in Libya on Sunday and Monday on regional cooperation, focusing particularly on border security.

Other countries invited include Chad, Egypt, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger and Sudan.

Regional security also figured in talks in Washington Thursday between U.S. officials and Libyan Prime Minister Abdel Rahim al-Kib.

While Libya struggles to restore order after the overthrow of dictator Moammar Gadhafi, other countries in the region are battling the activities of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, including hostage-taking, along with ethnic unrest and rampant smuggling.