By Sue Pleming TUNIS, Sept 6 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice discussed north African counter-terrorism efforts with Tunisia's leader on Saturday in an energy-rich region periodically hit by violence blamed on al Qaeda. Rice, calling the small north African state a "good friend" of Washington, also said she raised the issue of political reform in talks with President Zine al Abidine Ben Ali, 71, in power for two decades and due to seek re-election next year."We talked about internal matters here in Tunisia, about the course of reforms," Rice told reporters, a day after holding a historic meeting with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in Tripoli. "Tunisia is a good friend of the United States," said Rice. "It's a deep relationship, and we have broad cooperation across a range of issues." "We have obviously discussed the circumstances in the region in terms of security and counter-terrorism." Security concerns focus on oil-producing regional giant Algeria, although pro-Western Morocco and Tunisia have also been hit by attacks by al Qaeda-aligned militants in recent years. An estimated 125 people were killed in an upsurge of political violence in Algeria in August in attacks by al Qaeda's north Africa wing and clashes between the army and militants. Security experts say nationals of all north African states have participated in al Qaeda attacks in Algeria or have received training from al Qaeda groups in that country. An Islamist revolt began in 1992 in Algeria after the then military-backed authorities, fearing an Iran-style revolution, scrapped an election an Islamist party was set to win. More than 150,000 people have been killed in the ensuing violence. Tunisia, the region's most Westernised state, has been spared serious instability but its quiet atmosphere was hit in early 2007 by rare shoot-outs between police and radical Islamists near Tunis in which 14 of the gunmen were killed. Ben Ali said in March 2007 Tunisia had to take more interest in developing its youth and "safeguard them against the currents of extremism, fatalism and terrorism". He has also promised to extend human rights and multi-party democracy. Ben Ali is widely credited with ensuring stability and strong economic growth in the country of 10 million but critics accuse him of muzzling the press, stifling free speech and beating and jailing opponents, accusations he denies. "Rice should urge the Tunisian government to end its harassment and imprisonment of humans rights activists when she visits the country," Human Rights Watch said in a statement. On a visit in 2003 then U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell urged Tunisia to pursue political reforms and reported Ben Ali as replying that he was committed to reform but at a pace "consistent with the aspirations" of his people. In April, French President Nicolas Sarkozy dismissed concerns over Tunisia's human rights record, portraying its counter-terrorism efforts as a bulwark against the emergence of a "Taliban-type" regime in north Africa. On Friday Rice made the first trip by a U.S. secretary of state to Libya in 55 years, a move intended to end decades of enmity following the signing of a compensation package to cover legal claims involving victims of U.S. and Libyan bombings. (Reporting by Sue Pleming, editing by Keith Weir)
Flood victims wait to collect packets of drinking water at Jankinagar village in Purniya district, India's eastern state of Bihar September 5, 2008. Authorities battling a massive deluge in Bihar issued ...
