Niger reportedly allows U.S. surveillance drone deployment January 29, 2013 - 16:09 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Niger has given permission for U.S. surveillance drones to be stationed on its territory to improve intelligence on al-Qaida-linked Islamist fighters in northern Mali and the wider Sahara, a senior government source said, according to Reuters. The U.S. ambassador to Niger, Bisa Williams, made the request at a meeting on Monday, Jan 28, with President Mahamadou Issoufou, who immediately accepted it, the source said. "Niger has given the green light to accepting American surveillance drones on its soil to improve the collection of intelligence on Islamist movements," said the source, who asked not to be identified. The drones could be stationed in Niger's northern desert region of Agadez, which borders Mali, Algeria and Libya, the source said. Partner news  Top stories U.S. officials say they want to advance efforts to start talks between the Syrian government and opposition leaders. The international conference, backed by Russia and the U.S., aims to find a political solution to the conflict in Syria. Nuland, a career foreign service officer who was until recently State's top spokesperson, was expected to be nominated the post. Alkhatib said Assad should respond within 20 days and that he should then be given a month to dissolve parliament.   Partner news |  Latest news 220 ceasefire violations by Azeri armed forces reported May 19-25  Azerbaijan fired over 1000 shots from various caliber weapons towards Karabakh positions, NKR defense army’s press service said.ANCA calls for legal actions against Nişanyan sentence The ANCA asked the State Department to condemn the Turkish government's legal actions against Sevan Nişanyan.U.S. Supreme Court urged to review Genocide-era insurance case The Supreme Court is set to consider all submissions dealing with the Armenian Genocide-era insurance case on June 6.ANCA testimony to call for conditions on Turkey trade deal ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian will testify this coming week before the U.S. International Trade Commission. |
