17 August 2009

Middle East and North Africa Directorate

King Charles Street

London

SW1A 2AH

Mika Minio-Paluello

By email: mailto: [FOI #5157 email]

Dear Mika,

Your Freedom of Information Request: 0478-09

Please refer to the letter you received from my colleague Emily Summers of 10 August 2009. I regret to inform you that we are still unable to send you a substantive reply. This is because we are still considering the public interest test under section 27 (international relations).

I again apologise for the time it is taking to consider your request. I hope that we will be in a position to provide you with a final response by 28 August 2009.

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision, you should write to me at the above address.

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Please contact me if you have any queries about this letter.

Yours sincerely,

Robert Brooks

North Africa Team

1

Foreign &

Commonwealth

Office