UAE-based Emirates Telecommunications (Etisalat) is interested in bidding for a 51% stake in Algerian PTO Algerie Telecom, Reuters reports citing the Abu Dhabi firm’s chief executive of international investments, Jamal al-Jarwan, as saying. According to Mr Jarwan, Algerie Telecom has expressed a desire to sell the stake. Etisalat chairman Mohammad Omran said in January 2007 that his firm was prepared to pay up to USD3 billion for Algerie Telecom.