WASHINGTON (AP) - Hoping to widen the audience for its
mini-pronouncements of U.S. policy amid growing unrest in the
Middle East, the State Department has begun sending Twitter
messages in Arabic.
The department's first entry into Arabic language micro-blogging
appeared on Twitter early Wednesday. It's a post saying that
Washington recognizes the "historic role" of social media in the
Arab world. "We want to be in your conversation," it said.
The next posts reiterated President Barack Obama's stance that
only Egyptians can decide their future and summarized Vice
President Joe Biden's Tuesday call to Egyptian Vice President Omar
Suleiman.
The Twitter account is "USA bilAraby," which means "USA in
Arabic." It had 40 followers within hours of appearing.
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MATTHEW LEE
Associated Press

http://twitter.com/#!/USAbilAraby

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Online:
http://twitter.com/#!/USAbilAraby

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-02-09-11 1114EST