Clinton denies financing Islamist parties in Algeria

Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Saturday denied reports saying that the United States has provided financial support to some Islamist parties in Algeria, which will soon hold its parliamentary elections. "We don't provide financial support to any political party in the world. Yet, we tend to suggest working with parties to exchange ideas and support the organization of free, equal and reliable elections," said Clinton at the U.S. embassy in Algiers. Concerning the May 10 elections, Clinton said her country is ready to provide technical support. "If we are demanded, we would establish contacts with expert groups in order to work with authorities in Algeria ahead of next elections." Clinton arrived on Saturday in Algeria as part of her tour in the Maghreb region. She was welcomed at the Algiers International Airport by Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci. In her first visit as U.S. Secretary of State to the North African country, Clinton will meet with Algerian officials "over the consolidation of multiform bilateral relations between the two nations, amid political reforms underway in Algeria," according to Medelci. The United States was Algeria's largest importer in 2011, buying up to 61.14 billion U.S. dollars worth of goods, and the Algeria's imports from the United States hit 59.1 billion dollars in the same year, according to U.S. official figures.