U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld left Morocco Monday, winding up his three-day North Africa tour with anti-terrorism top on the agenda, local media reported.

During the one-day stay in Morocco, Rumsfeld talked respectively with King Mohammed VI, Prime Minister Driss Jettou and military officials, with military and anti-terror cooperation dominating the talks.

Anti-terrorism has been the focus of talks between Rumsfeld and leaders of Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, as the United States is particularly concerned about terrorists' ability to put down roots in North Africa.

Besides delivering military assistance, the United States also plans to help train anti-terror troops for the three countries.

In Morocco, Rumsfeld told reporters that both NATO and Arab Maghreb Union countries face security threats from terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and drug trafficking.

NATO hopes to strengthen its communication and coordination with Morocco and other countries in the region, Rumsfeld said.

Local analysts said that Rumsfeld's first ever visit to North Africa since taking office as secretary of defense is a bid to improve U.S. relations with Arab countries.

Morocco was the last stop for Rumsfeld on a three-day trip after attending a NATO defense ministers meeting in Sicily.

Rumsfeld arrived in Morocco on Sunday night after visiting Tunisia and Algeria.

All three countries are involved in NATO'S Mediterranean Sea Dialogue Program. The Arab Maghreb Union was founded in 1989, comprising Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.

Source: Xinhua