Arms smuggling from Libya threatens Africa - Africom commander

TUNIS, April 23 (KUNA) -- Commander of the US Africa Command (Africom) General Carter Ham warned here Monday against a real danger in the African continent resulted from smuggling of large quantities of weapons out of Libya.
General Ham, at a news conference at the US Embassy in Tunis, said the smuggling of weapons has been rising since the spark of the revolution in Libya.
Solving this problem, which he described as real danger, could materialize through collaboration of regional and international efforts.
Ham said terrorist organizations, namely Al-Qaeda, were posing a threat to security and stability in Africa particularly with regards to events in Mali and Guinea-Bssau coupled with weapons' smuggling from Libya.
He, meanwhile, denied US plans to establish a headquarter for Africom in the African region because of high costs.
On Tunisia, Ham said democratic transformation in Tunisia was better than some African countries.
He said the US provided USD 32 million in military assistance to Tunisia over the past 16 months, double the amount of previous years.
General Ham said there were currently 35 Tunisian military personnel receiving training at American military academies. (end) jn.bs KUNA 232321 Apr 12NNNN