Algerian President responds to reports on hosting US military bases

SANAA, Oct. 11 (YPA) – Algerian President Abelmadjid Tebboune said Sunday that Algeria would not host US military bases on its territory.

“Military cooperation with America will continue, they have the right to fly our airspace without problem, but there will be no military bases in Algeria,” Tebboune said in an interview broadcast on state television.

“We are not enemies of the United States of America, we are for them a country that is making stability in the region,” he added.

On the other hand, he said it was France’s “hostile” actions that prompted Algeria to close its airspace to French military aircraft, noting that the return of his country’s ambassador to Paris was conditional on Algeria’s respect.

Algeria and France are in a new crisis, with the Algerian presidency deciding last week to recall its ambassador to Paris.

E.M