News from Algeria 2007

[Al-khiyal]

January 06, 2007 - - "France must apologize for the wrongs it committed against Algeria during the colonial period," Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem said on national radio on Thursday.

"We are willing to work with France, but on the condition that we acknowledge the past," said the prime minster emphasizing that certain issues between France and Algeria could not be wished away.

"Algeria aspires for an equitable relationship with France and I hope that the ongoing dialogue between our two countries is based on mutual interests," said the prime minister.

Divergence of views between the two countries on the question of French colonization of Algeria hinders the development of bilateral relations, causing among other things the postponement of the signing of a treaty of friendship between Algeria and France.

Algeria demands apology from France

[Al-khiyal]

The leader of Algeria's main armed opposition group, now linked to al-Qaeda, vowed Saturday to continue with its struggle and appealed to Osama bin Laden for instructions.

Abdelmalek Dourkdel, leader of the Salafist Group for Call and Combat, rejected an appeal for reconciliation by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to end the 14-year fight in Algeria. The group must continue its fight against "aggressors" who have erected "artificial borders" between Islamic states, Dourkdel said in a note on the group's Web site.

Addressing bin Laden, whom he called "our dear emir," Dourkdel said, "We are impatiently awaiting your instructions and directions for the next phase."

Dourkdel was one of the signatories to a statement in 2003 announcing the group's alliance with al-Qaeda.

Algeria: Main Islamist group rejects truce call

[Al-khiyal]

The National Gendarmerie brigade has caught red-handed two Saudi diplomats from the Saudi Arabia Embassy in Algiers, illegally hunting gazelles in al-Bayad desert on board two Toyota Station vehicles.

El Khabar has been shown the two vehicles, arms and other material used for hunting, which were sent as evidence to al-Bayad court’s prosecuting attorney as well as two gazelles’ heads hunted by the accused. Eight people that were accompanying the two diplomat-hunters were heard yesterday by the prosecuting attorney before being sent before the examining magistrate, awaiting the two Saudi diplomats’ immunity to be lifted to allow the court to hear them.

This affair comes less than one month after two Kuwaitis were red-handed hunting in the same area, an act banned by Algerian law. They were given severe sentences for violation of the Republic's laws. In addition, Articles 4 and 9 of a presidential decree, issued on July 15, 2006, stipulate that persons implicated in such cases are punished by one to three years firm imprisonment and a 200-thousand-dinar to 500-thousand-dinar fine. A list of animals whose hunting is banned has been released, it includes bustards and gazelles.

However, our sources said that illegal hunting in some areas of Algeria is related to networks led by foreigners. El Khabar contacted the Saudi Embassy in Algiers who told us they have no information about the issue.

Two Saudi diplomats caught red-handed, illegally hunting in Algerian desert

[Al-khiyal]

The National Gendarmerie last week seized in Tebessa (east) 7 billion centimes worth of faked tax stamps; a counterfeiter-band has been dismantled. It was using up-to-date techniques to forge stamps abroad before bringing them to Algeria.

Following information on a gang spreading faked tax stamps, an investigation brigade of the National Gendarmerie opened an enquiry into the affair which led to the arrest on Wednesday of an individual in the al-Marbah district on the Algerian-Tunisian boder. The arrested person’s confession allowed the arrest of six people aged between 27 and 55. During house searches carried out in five homes in al-Marbah, investigators found five-billion centimes worth of forged tax stamps. Four other implicated people are on the lam, and are being sought by security services. In addition, two billion centimes worth of faked tax stamps were discovered when gendarmerie investigators were searching a house belonging to one of the involved persons in the Daira district, Tebessa administrative centre.

The significant value of the faked tax stamps led the security department to keep the affair secret until the end of investigations and the arrest of the forgers. The gang’s members are to be presented before the prosecuting attorney at Awinat tribunal, Tebessa court of justice, within the week.

Investigations into faked tax stamps

[Al-khiyal]

U.S. State Senator Steve Rauschenberger Algeria bound as part of U.S. State Department project to train members of Algeria's national parliament

[Al-khiyal]

Six terroristes du GSPC se rendent à Boumerdès

[Al-khiyal]

Ouverture ce matin du premier des quatre procès du scandale du groupe Khalifa: La justice, rien que la justice !