Clinton to visit Abu Dhabi for counter terrorism meeting

DUBAI // Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, will travel to the capital next week for talks on counter terrorism.

The senior diplomat, who will leave her post in January, will attend the third ministerial meeting of the Global Counter Terrorism forum on December 14.

The meeting is expected to feature the launch of an International Centre of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism, according to a US statement.

The trip will be part of a tour of the region next week that will also include visits to Morocco and Tunisia.

In Marrakesh, Clinton will attend the Friends of Syria meeting, and may also give official endorsement to the anti-Assad opposition group known as the National Coalition.

“Now that there is a new opposition formed, we are going to be doing what we can to support that opposition,” Clinton told reporters in Brussels, AP reported.

“I'm looking forward to the Friends of the Syrian People meeting next week in Marrakesh, where we will explore with like-minded countries what more we can do to try bring this conflict to an end.”

mcroucher@thenational.ae