Djibouti

The United States last Friday signed a deal with Djibouti that gives US troops in the Horn of Africa country immunity from prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

US President George W Bush discussed possible war against Iraq with Djibouti President Ismael Omar Guelleh on Tuesday and said the United States would soon open an aid office in the tiny African nation. During a cordial half-hour meeting, Bush thanked his guest for his help in the war on terrorism and told him that Washington aims to open an office of the US Agency for International Development in Djibouti.

The pro-presidential coalition in Djibouti has taken all 65 seats in the national assembly, following the country's first full multi-party elections held last week, according to official results. The announcement, reported by the Djibouti news agency, was made by the country's Interior Minister, Abdulkader Doualeh Wais, last Saturday.

The United States is preparing to take on suspected al-Qaeda members believed to be hiding in Yemen and has sent 800 US troops and an unknown number of special forces operatives to Djibouti, the tiny African nation facing Yemen.

Djibouti President Ismael Omar Guelleh has announced the introduction of multiparty politics to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the country's constitution on 4 September.

Pages