[originaltext] After meeting with the top officials in Algeria, Tunisia and M

After meeting with the top officials in Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco in recent days, US .Secretary of Defense says he does not see much likelihood of international terrorist organizations gaining a foothold in those countries. The Secretary focused on counter-terrorism on all three of his North Africa stops, after U. S. officials said they want to continue working with the three countries to help them gain full control of their territory to prevent terrorist groups from establishing bases there. But after the meetings, he said the three countries are already doing a good job keeping terrorists out. "I think that each of those three countries is managing their affairs, their internal affairs in a way that makes that an extremely low possibility." The Secretary said leaders of the three countries recognize that economic, political and social progress are as important as security efforts in keeping terrorists from gaining a foothold.