President in talks with visiting US official

The US deputy assistant secretary for defence, African affairs, Mike Westphal, held talks with President Ismael Omar Guelleh in Djibouti on Monday, the Djibouti news agency, ADI, reported. The talks, held at the president's private residence, focused on bilateral relations. According to ADI, the US official's visit is part of a tour of the region. Meanwhile, the government-owned telecommunications company has started selling the country's first mobile handsets and lines, AFP reported on Tuesday. Customers were coming to the Djibouti-Telecoms sales centre to obtain the equipment, which, together with a GSM line, costs between US $100 and $200, said AFP. Initial plans by the company are to open some 25,000 lines. Djibouti-Telecoms has also expanded its fixed line network from 15,000 to 60,000 lines, according to AFP. The official launch of the mobile network is expected to take place later in the month. In another development, a seven-member Chinese trade delegation is in Djibouti to study the feasibility of potential Chinese investment, Ali Hasan Bahdon, director of the national investment promotion agency told IRIN on Tuesday. Bahdon said the Chinese were looking into the transport sector, particularly the air-cargo area. "They are interested in shipping Chinese-made goods to Djibouti, and then airfreight them to the region." Bahdon said China, which now ships goods to Dubai for re-export to the region, sees Djibouti as the "gateway to East Africa".