Islamabad, June 28: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf will tour three North African countries by the end of next month for talks with their leaders on bilateral, regional and international issues, an official said today. The tour will take him to Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. It will be the first time Musharraf has visited any of these countries since coming to power through a bloodless coup in October 1999.

The official, speaking on anonymity, said the dates were being finalised for the visit which would take place in the last week of July. Musharraf is currently in the United States where he has held talks with President George W Bush and secured a three-billion-dollar US aid package.

Musharraf's current itinerary includes visits to France and Germany. He is scheduled to return home early next month. Bureau Report