The Global Counterterrorism Forum announced Friday by US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton comprises 27 countries plus the European Union, in addition to co-founding members the United States and Turkey, dpa reported The forum is to be formally launched this month on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and will work closely with current UN efforts against terrorism. It aims to help countries emerging from authoritarian rule in their efforts to combat terrorism, Clinton said in New York. The founding members are: Algeria, Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, Egypt, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Britain and the United States.
