| The United States has expanded security and military aid to Algeria, including the sale of non-lethal weaponry to the North African state. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State William Burns said the Bush administration offered what he termed defensive systems to Algeria as part of expanded military aid and cooperation. Burns did not specify the weaponry. During a visit in October to Algiers, Burns said the United States provided Algeria with $700,000 a year for military equipment and training of security forces. That equipment is said to include night-vision and other non-lethal equipment. "Counter-terrorism cooperation between our countries continues to be outstanding and of a great value," Burns said. "For our part, we are doing what we can to help Algeria finally put an end to the terrorist scourge that has ravaged the Algerian people for over a decade." |