Tunisia denies rumors of setting up U.S. base in country

TUNIS, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Tunisia's Defense Ministry spokesman denied rumors of allowing a U.S. military base to be set up in his country, the official TAP press agency reported Friday.

Colonel Major Mokhtar Ben Nasr told reporters in the capital Tunis that those rumors relayed by certain media and social networking websites were "baseless."

He meanwhile said the recent visit of head of the U.S. Africa Command, General Carter Ham, in Tunisia was a farewell visit.

Ham, who met Tunisia's leaders and defense officials during his visit, warned against the threat posed by al-Qaida in the North African nation and the Maghreb.