NATO in Malta

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) will take over security on the Maltese islands during the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting next week, writes Frank Nyakairu of Uganda's Daily Monitor. Uganda was beaten by Malta in the bid to host this year's CHOGM and is expected to win the bid to host the next meeting in 2007:

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) will protect the Queen of England together with 53 heads of State in the Malta amid reports that the summit is under threat by terrorists. Maltese government spokesman Emmanuel Abela told Daily Monitor in an interview on Thursday that the island country is not taking the threat for granted. “We are not taking any threat for granted, the Maltese police is ready to work with other international security organisations to make sure that nothing happens,” Abela said.

This follows a report in the British newspapers and the Maltese newspaper, The Times of Malta that the Queen of England is a target of terrorists following an arrest of a Sudanese Al Queda suspect in neighbouring Italy. The Maltese government has, however, denied that its security forces had got leads of a possible attack.

Information obtained by Daily Monitor indicates that the Nato will take over security working with the Maltese police. Abela said his government set a side over $7 million for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm)

GWU to hold protest during CHOGM; From Reuters, Commonwealth leaders to warn on world trade; Ir-Regina thossha sigura f’Malta!