But Gen Allen said that the idea of no American military presence in the country was not an option, and that he had not even been asked to look at its feasibility.

BBC: Afghan Isaf commander John Allen sees 'road to winning'

"Algeria's not a country that would feel comfortable relying on foreign security forces to help liberate the hostages, and that's because of this deep-seated feeling that there should be no foreign military presence in the country, " said Robert Parks, director of the Centre for North African Studies in Algeria.

BBC: Algerian reaction to raid rooted in history

Mr Trenin says that what Russia wants is a buffer zone, with no American military bases or NATO presence.

ECONOMIST: Russian-American relations