US under-secretary for Mideast and North Africa in Morocco

The US under-secretary of state for the Middle East and North Africa, Edward Walker, is visiting Morocco this Friday, last leg of a Maghreb tour that led him to Algeria and Tunisia.

Walker's talks with Moroccan officials will focus on the Middle East peace process, and on relations between Morocco and the United States, a US diplomatic source in Rabat said.

This is Walker's first trip to Morocco since his appointment in January in replacement of Martin Indyk who took over as ambassador to Israel.

Walker had told reporters in Tunis on Thursday after a meeting with President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali that the latest developments in the Mideast peace process prompt optimism.

He said he discussed with the Tunisian head of state the situation prevailing in the Maghreb and the assistance the United States can extend at the bilateral level as well as economic backing to the countries of the region through the American-Maghreban partnership initiative.