Washington received an Algerian request to buy weapons

The US has announced that Algeria expressed desire to buy American military equipment but did not accept or refuse this request.

The spokesman for the US Department Of State, Richard Boucher, said that this matter was debated during the visit held last Monday to Algeria by the Assistant Secretary William Joseph Burns. The spokesman added that Algeria talked about the possibility of buying a series of military equipment and that the US will answer every case separately. Boucher explained that Washington does not give financial support to Algeria to buy weapons, but Algerian army officers have been following up for many years a qualification programs at American military schools. Boucher added that Algeria bought also military equipment from American companies that had the consent of the American authorities. He indicated that this matter relates to fighting equipment as well as radar and reconnaissance planes to monitor borders, telecommunications systems and equipment for night vision.

On another development, the Algerian daily Liberty quoted the minister of justice and prisons reforms, Muhammad Sharafi, as saying that prime minister Ali Bin Flis approved the closure of the Ser Kaji prison in the capital Algiers, according to recommendations approved by a meeting by the judiciary and supervised by the ministry of justice during the two past days.