US bases on Libyan border frustrate Tantawi

The chairman of Egypt's powerful Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF), Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi has told the chairman of neighbouring Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) Mustafa Abdel Jalil that Cairo was opposed to the establishment of US military bases near the country's western borders, sources have said. Tantawi was responding to US President Barack Obama's statement where he said "about 12 US marines from a military base in Malta were ready to move to Libyan land, in order to secure oil rigs and participate in aiding the Libyan military against continuous attacks from the forces loyal to slain, ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi. Sources have said that "experts" are studying the best ares to establish US military bases in Libya, which some may see as a direct threat to Egypt's security on its border with Libya on the west, and Israel on the east.