News from Algeria 2007

[Al-khiyal]

ALGIERS, Jan. 8 (BNA) -- The Algerian authorities have seized and recovered over 1,100 stolen archaeological works of art in 2006 as part of the fight against the attack on Algeria's cultural and historic heritage, the Algerian News Agency reported.

The Algerian authorities pointed out that they have recovered three valuable paintings that were stolen by four persons.

Algerian authorities recover stolen archaeological works

[Al-khiyal]

Algerian woman's suicide "because of Saddam Hussein hanging"

Algiers - A group of Algerian schoolchildren in a game imitating the execution of Saddam Hussein hanged a 12-year-old classmate, said reports on Monday, in the latest of a series of copycat hangings.

It was reported that the Algerian boy died two days after the former Iraqi dictator was hanged on December 30 in the village of Oued Rihou in western Algeria.

According to reports: "Oued Rihou is in shock. United States policy in Iraq has made an innocent victim in Algeria."

The two-and-half minute film of Saddam's execution taken with a mobile telephone camera had spread across the world on the internet, inspiring some children to copy it.

It was reported that a 10-year-old American boy accidentally killed himself after imitating the video clip he had seen on television.

In Pakistan, a nine-year-old boy hanged himself from a ceiling fan on January 01, also trying to copy hanging scenes from the execution video.

Meanwhile, a 15-year-old girl from eastern India also hanged herself from a ceiling fan after becoming extremely depressed watching Saddam's execution on television.

Saddam Hussein 'game' kills Algerian schoolboy

[Al-khiyal]

SANA'A, Jan. 08 (Saba) -A member of the Consultative Committee for cultural affairs in Algeria, Ahmed Hamdi, arrived here on Monday for a few days' visit in which he will meet with officials in the Ministry of Culture.

Hamdi said that he would offer an invitation to the Yemeni Minister of Culture Khaled al-Rowaishan from his Algerian counterpart to attend the cultural activities relating to the naming of Algeria as the Algerian Arab Cultural Capital for 2007.

He pointed out that his country has prepared a very rich program including all cultural activities, such as holding 14 exhibitions for various Algerian arts and seven book exhibitions.

Algerian official arrives in Sana'a

[Al-khiyal]

Le procès du plus grand scandale financier algérien s'est ouvert à Blida

[Al-khiyal]

Islamist group wants attacks on French in Algeria

[Al-khiyal]

Algiers - Four British sailors were rescued by the Algerian navy on Monday after their vessels ran into trouble in high seas off the coast of Oran, a navy statement said.

The incident happened 15 miles north-west of the Habibas Islands in the Mediterranean when their two boats ran out of fuel and drifted into trouble.

The boats were towed into the nearby port of Oran where the sailors were attended to by coastguards, the statement said.

The sailors had been on a fishing trip, and had left Spanish waters last Friday.

British sailors rescued by Algerian navy

[Al-khiyal]

Six terroristes du GSPC se rendent à Boumerdès

Six members of the Salafist Group for Preaching and combat (GSPC), the major rebel group in Algeria, recently surrendered to Algerian authorities in Boumerdes, about 50 km east of Algiers, local press reported on Monday.

The repentants aged between 18 and 22 years benefited from provisions of the national charter for peace and reconciliation which was adopted in September 2005 and prescribes amnesty to members of the rebel organization who have not committed serious crimes if they surrender.

GSPC, a militant Islamist group aiming to overthrow the Algerian government and institute an Islamic state, declined to put down arms in a message it recently posted on its website.

It also acknowledged the presence of foreign "fighters" within its ranks and reaffirmed its allegiance to Al-Qaeda.

Six rebels surrender to Algerian authorities