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UAE points to its anti-terror role in US port row

DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates said on Friday it was a close ally of the US in its war on terrorism, after US senators opposed a UAE firm’s takeover of a company that operates several American ports over security concerns. Two US Democratic senators have said they will introduce legislation to block Dubai Ports World from buying P&O and gaining control over the management of US ports because of national security concerns. “I understand the debate in the US on the issue of P&O and Dubai Ports but we would like to emphasise that we have been a strong ally of the US in combating terrorism and will remain so,” UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan told Reuters. “We are pleased with our relationship with the United States and we are looking forward to the forthcoming meeting between the (Gulf Arab) foreign ministers and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Abu Dhabi next week and to further enhancing these relations,” he said. P&O, which Dubai Ports World plans to buy for $6.8 billion, is already foreign-owned, by the British, but the concern is that the purchaser is backed by the United Arab Emirates government. US officials have said the UAE has been a solid and cooperative partner in the fight against terrorism, and have praised it for steps to protect its booming financial sector against abuse by terrorism financiers. reuters

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