Algerian- American talks

Algerian President Abdul Aziz Butaflika on Sunday in Algiers received the US under secretary of state for the Middle East affairs William Burns. The meeting was attended by the Algerian minister of state for foreign affairs Abdul Aziz Balkhadem and the US ambassador in Algiers.

In an arrival statement in Algiers on Sunday morning in a visit to Algeria which lasts for two days, the US under secretary of state said that his country is working relentlessly to settle conditions in the region and to continue contacts between the Israelis and the Palestinians, noting that the situation there is very difficult.

The US official added that the US President George Bush and secretary Powell stressed exerting their utmost efforts to contain the exploded situation between the Palestinians and the Israelis and to return back to the political track.