Algeria on Monday protested a U.S. decision to include its citizens among those subject to extra security measures in airports when they fly to the United States.
"Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci summoned U.S. ambassador David Pearce on Monday to denounce this discriminatory and unjustified
move," a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry said.
Fourteen countries -- Algeria, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Syria, Yemen, Cuba, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Saudi Arabia and
Sudan -- were listed by the United States with directives that passengers traveling from these countries to the United States by air face extra
security screening.
The statement said the North African county took "necessary measures" in this regard to the U.S. administration, immediately after the list was
released.
However, the statement did not make clear what these measures are. The U.S. move followed a foiled Christmas Day attempt by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a 23-year-old Nigerian, to blow up a U.S. jetliner as it approached Detroit from Amsterdam.