WORLD BRIEFS

NATO selects 3 missile battery sites in Turkey

BRUSSELS — NATO says it has picked three sites in southern Turkey to base batteries of Patriot surface-to-air missiles intended to boost the nation’s air defenses against possible spillover from Syria.

Germany, the Netherlands and the United States will provide two batteries each of an advanced version of the Patriot optimized to shoot down incoming missiles. More than 1,000 troops from the three nations will service the batteries.

Spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said the deployment will not support a no-fly zone inside Syria.

The Germans will be based unit at Kahramanmaras, located about 60 miles north of the Syrian border; the Dutch at Adana, about 66 miles west; and the Americans at Gaziantep, about 50 kilometers north.

South African president visits Nelson Mandela

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s president has visited former leader Nelson Mandela in a hospital, and the presiden- cy says Mandela continues to respond to treatment.

The office of President Jacob Zuma says he saw Mandela on Saturday morning in Pretoria, the capital, and assured the anti-apartheid icon that he has the support of all South Africans and the world.

Mandela, who is 94, has been hospitalized since Dec. 8. He was diagnosed with a lung infection and also had gallstone surgery.

Guyana rewarded for protecting rainforest

GEORGETOWN, Guyana — The South American country of Guyana says it will receive an additional $45 million in cash from Norway as a reward for protecting its rainforest.

President Donald Ramotar says the money will help fund a hydroelectric project in central Guyana and provide electricity and Internet service in remote jungle communities.

Ramotar said that Guyana has so far received $115 million of a $250 million grant it negotiated with Norway as part of a 2009 agreement.