US ready to help Tunisian elections: Obama advisor
The United States is ready to help the Tunisian government hold elections after the fall of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's government, a key advisor to US President Barack Obama said Monday.
On a visit to Algeria, Obama's counter-terrorism advisor John Brennan also called for calm in neighbouring Tunisia, unstable after Ben Ali fled on Friday following weeks of protests.
"As President Obama
said, we applaud the courage and dignity of the Tunisian people, and we urge all parties to maintain calm and avoid violence," Brennan said at a press conference, after gunfights at the weekend.
"We stand ready to assist the Tunisian government in holding free and fair elections in the near future that reflect the true will and aspirations of the Tunisian people," he said.
The European Union also said Monday it was ready to offer "immediate" help to organise free and fair elections in Tunisia.
Obama on Friday praised the courage and dignity of Tunisian people after the toppling of Ben Ali, and called for elections.
On Sunday US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Washington was "encouraged" by the pledges of Tunisia's prime minister and interim president to usher in a new era of inclusive government.
She also offered US assistance to help "meet these challenges".
Algeria has seen four attempted public suicides in the past week in apparent copycat replays of last month's self-immolation of a 26-year-old graduate in Tunisia which triggered the popular revolt against Ben Ali.
Brennan's visit to Algeria is focussed on military and security cooperation, with north Africa battling Al-Qaeda-linked militants.
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