News from Algeria 2009

[Al-khiyal]

Grand coup de filet des services de sécurité :
L’un des terroristes évadés de la prison de Kenitra arrêté en Algérie

Recherché par les services d’Interpol :
Un terroriste marocain arrêté à Boumerdès

Moroccan terror fugitive caught in Algeria

RABAT, Morocco, January 8, 2009 (AP) — The official Moroccan news agency says an Islamist convicted in the deadly 2003 Casablanca bombings who escaped from prison has been caught in neighboring Algeria and returned home.

The MAP agency says Hicham Alami, who had been sentenced to life for his role in the bombings that killed 45 people, was among nine Islamists who escaped from the high-security Kenitra prison in April.

MAP reports that Alami was caught in Algeria, returned to Morocco and went before a judge Thursday, to be retried for terrorism and evasion.

The high-profile escape last spring raised fears that the prison was infiltrated by Islamist supporters of the convicts.

A total of seven of the escapees are reported to have been caught.

[Al-khiyal]

Mauritanian assembly fixes date for presidential elections

January 8, 2009 -- A group of Mauritanian officials reached a consensus Monday (January 5th) on at least one step to restore democracy to the troubled state. It was decided at the conclusion of the ten-day Etats Généraux de la Démocratie (EGD, or General Assembly for Democracy) in Nouakchott that presidential elections will be held on May 30th, 2009, with a second run-off round (if needed) tentatively scheduled for June 13th.

The EGD, organised by the High Council of State (HCE), which seized power last August from the democratically-elected government of Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdellahi, drew participation from 1,500 representatives of Mauritania's ruling class.

Facing tremendous foreign pressure to return the country to civilian rule, junta leader General Mohammed Ould Abdelaziz and the HCE decided to provide an open forum for discussion of the constitution and the roles and powers of the next head of state and the military in a democratic Mauritania.

Turnout was high, despite a boycott by deposed President Abdellahi and the National Front for the Defence of Democracy (FNDD), which opposed the coup. Participants included two-thirds of the parliament, 191 of the 216 mayors in office across Mauritania, political parties that supported the coup, and regional and religious dignitaries.

Also in attendance were the Rally of Democratic Forces (RFD) led by Ahmed Ould Daddah, and Ibrahima Sarr's Alliance for Justice and Democracy/Movement for Renewal (AJD/MR).

For ten days, participants debated a range of political issues divided into seven workshops: organisation of public authorities; political institutions; organisation of elections; monitoring and observation of elections; the electoral timetable; civil society, media and elections; and the role of mayors as actors in development.

In addition to setting an election date, the EGD recommended constitutional reform of articles concerning the election and dismissal of the President of the Republic, the balance of power between the president and parliament, and the status of the armed forces. Furthermore, it specified a six-month transitional period back to democracy. However, the participants failed to agree on the eligibility of military officers to run in the elections.

"The results of the public forums were not as I expected," said Sayed Ould Elb, an NGO director who participated in the conference. "It was necessary to reach a consensus over the need for the members of the military council to run in the elections slated for next May."

Former MP Sayyid Ahmed Ould Al Talib was concerned about the same issue. "So far, the [HCE] hasn't undertaken to be neutral in the elections; this doesn't promise a democratic future," he said. His group submitted a proposal on this question to the committee supervising the elections, but it failed to receive consensus.

"What is the benefit of consultations if the controversial issues are not resolved?" he asked.

Speaking at the conclusion of the Assembly meetings, General Mohammed Ould Abdelaziz vowed to abide by recommendations. "Today, we are obtaining the conclusions that embody your opinions and visions on the main issues for the coming period... As I said at the opening of these forums, the High Council of State will faithfully implement everything which received the approval of the majority of participants in the General Assembly for Democracy."

Responses to the conclusions of the EGD varied. Eberhard Schanze, German Ambassador to Nouakchott, said: "When I saw the draft of the final statement, I could see that it was an earnest reflection of the discussions, which were very open, frank and earnest. I could also read between the lines a heartfelt desire among the participants to seek out serious solutions to the issues which they had discussed. My impression is that what happened is no fabrication."

Opposition leader and RFD President Ahmed Ould Daddah said in a Tuesday statement that he is "unbound" by the conclusions of the Assembly. The workshops, he claims, "were largely open to well-known adulators who have always applauded the various regimes over the years, diverting the discussion from its real purpose."

He said the conclusions of the forum are not an accurate reflection of the views and opinions expressed by participants. Responding to rumours of General Abdelaziz's intentions to stand for election, Ould Daddah told the press: "This would be catastrophic, both for democracy and for a real way out of the crisis, for the absence of military staff from the elections is an essential point if there is to be a free, honest and transparent vote."

FNDD acting President Boidiel Ould Houmeid went one step further, describing the EGD in a press conference on Wednesday as an "illegal enterprise aimed at legitimising the coup, which is a fait accompli".

[Al-khiyal]

Explosion d’une mine à Bouira :
Une femme âgée grièvement blessée

Bomb blast wounds woman in central Algeria

[Al-khiyal]

Maghreb countries offer help to Palestinians

January 8, 2009 -- Hundreds of Algerians donated blood for civilians injured in the Israeli offensive on Gaza, as part of a campaign organised by the country's health ministry on Wednesday (January 7th), APS reported. The Algerian Medical Council said doctors are ready to receive and treat wounded Palestinians. To show their solidarity with Gaza children, Algerian children also sent some three million letters to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and UNICEF to ask that the International Convention on the Rights of the Child be respected, Tout sur l'Algérie reported on Thursday (January 8th).

Meanwhile, Morocco is ready to receive the first of 200 injured Palestinians, the Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday (January 7th). The Gaza casualties will be admitted to the Mohammed V Military hospital and the Avicennes University Hospital Centre in Rabat. As protest demonstrations in several Moroccan cities continued, MAP quoted King Mohammed VI as saying he is closely following "the tragic developments" in Gaza and taking part in regional initiatives to find a way out of the crisis.

In Tunisia, President Ben Ali warned at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday of an impending humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

[Al-khiyal]

[Al-khiyal]

Alger, le 9 janvier 2009

[Al-khiyal]

Plusieurs milliers de manifestants dans les rues d'Alger :
des drapeaux israéliens brûlés

Vendredi 9 Janvier 2009 -- Ils ont marché. Enfin. Après plusieurs tentatives sans succès, les Algérois sont descendus aujourd'hui dans les rues de la capitale. Plusieurs milliers de personnes manifestaient vendredi après-midi dans les rues d'Alger en solidarité avec les Palestiniens et contre l'opération militaire israélienne contre Gaza. Les manifestants, venus principalement des quartiers populaires notamment Bab el Oued et Belcourt, se sont regroupés après la grande prière du vendredi pour converger vers la place du 1er mai au cœur de la capitale.

Des slogans hostiles à Israël, aux dirigeants arabes dont le président égyptien Hosni et aux Etats-Unis, fusaient de la foule qui criait aussi "armée et peuple avec toi, Gaza", "emmenez-nous à Gaza" ou "Allah Akbar". Des drapeaux israéliens ont été brûlés.

Quelques incidents se sont produits entre les manifestants et des policiers anti-émeutes dans le centre-ville mais la manifestation se poursuivait dans le calme peu avant 16h00 sur le boulevard du front de mer, le long de la baie. Dès la matinée d'importantes forces de police ont été déployées à Alger, notamment aux alentours des mosquées et dans les quartiers populaires. En dépit des appels répétés de plusieurs partis et personnalités politiques, le gouvernement continue d'empêcher systématiquement toutes les manifestations de soutien à Gaza. Les seuls rassemblements autorisés sont ceux organisés par les partis de l'Alliance présidentielle. Des rassemblements organisés souvent dans des salles pour éviter toute marche populaire.

Par ailleurs, l'ex-numéro du FIS Ali Benhadj a été une nouvelle fois arrêté aujourd'hui. Selon son frère, il a été interpellé « à 15h00 à la place du 1er mai à Alger ». Selon la même source, la foule aurait tenté d'empêcher les policiers d'arrêter l'ancien dirigeant du FIS. Mais ce dernier a finalement accepté de les suivre. C'est la septième fois que M. Benhadj est interpellé depuis le début des opérations israéliennes à Gaza. A chaque fois, il est relâché par la police. Les Algériens ont également marché un peu partout à travers le pays en scandant des slogans hostiles à Israël et aux Etats-Unis. L’Algérie est l’un des rares pays arabes à interdire systématiquement les manifestations de soutien à Gaza.