Welch holds talks with top officials on reforms in Algeria

David Welch, the Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs in the US Department of State has been on a visit to Algeria since Tuesday to hold talks with top State officials on a number of security-related issues in the region.

M. Welch who was received by Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is going to visit Tunisia starting from Wednesday as part of a tour said to be relating to Middle East and security issues including the Iranian nuclear one.

Observers believe that the US official came to Algeria on the basis of President Bouteflika’s visit to Russia. He is expected to submit a report to the Bush Administration on results of the official visit to Moscow.

David Welch is also expected to deal with political, social and economic events in Algeria.