US assistant secretary of states to visit Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco soon

Martin Indyk, the assistant US secretary of state for Middle East affairs, is launching a formal visit to Morocco today within a regional tour that is to include Algeria and Tunisia.

Indyk had delayed his visit to Morocco because Rabat was forming the new government.

A Moroccan source told ArabicNews.com that the US official's visit will address bilateral relations with Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia and problems hindering these relations.

The source also said that the US will discuss methods of aiding the Algerian government in confronting its problems resulting from violence, and encourage it to implement economic and political reforms.