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UAE, Algeria discuss relations

Mon, 20 May 2013 06:26:23 +0300

Abu Dhabi, May 20 (IANS/WAM ) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Algeria have held talks to explore new ways of enhancing bilateral cooperation in areas like industry, investment and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Analysis: Four Scenarios Facing Algeria

Sat, 18 May 2013 21:06:16 +0300

Algiers, Asharq Al-Awsat—President Abdulaziz Bouteflika’s recent mini-stroke, which resulted in him being flown to France for urgent medical treatment, has renewed the controversy surrounding the political future of the country, including the possible transition of power.A significant number of Algerians are convinced that the president’s health will impede his chances of securing a fourth term in office at the forthcoming elections scheduled for spring 2014. ...

Saudi ship owner pays pirates $ 2.6 m ransom

Wed, 15 May 2013 03:00:00 +0300

The Saudi owner of an Algerian cargo ship whose crew were held by Somali pirates for 10 months admitted paying $ 2.6 million to free them in November 2011, AFP reported yesterday quoting an Algerian newspaper.The MV Blida, carrying 17 Algerians, six Ukrainians, two Filipinos, one Jordanian and one Indonesian, was captured by a gang of heavily armed pirates on Jan. 1, 2011, on its way from Oman to Tanzania. Two of hostages were released for health reasons in October that year, with the rest freed the following month when a bag full of cash was parachuted from a plane. ...

Egypt foils plot to blow up Western mission

Sun, 12 May 2013 03:00:00 +0300

Egypt’s interior minister said yesterday police arrested three members of an Al-Qaeda-linked cell in an alleged transnational plot to bomb a Western embassy and other targets in the country. The suspects were arrested with explosives intended to be used to bomb a Western embassy after an investigation showed threads in Pakistan, Iran and Algeria, Mohamed Ibrahim said at a news conference.Police “have delivered a successful blow against a terror cell plotting suicide bomb attacks,” said the interior minister. ...

Tunisia arrests Libyan "terrorist" entering port with explosives

Thu, 09 May 2013 16:01:38 +0300

May 9 (Reuters) - Tunisia said on Thursday police hadarrested a Libyan "terrorist" trying to enter a southern portwith explosives, as security forces wage a nationwide campaignagainst militants. "The anti-terrorism task force ... arrested on Wednesday aterrorist Libyan trying to enter with a quantity of explosivesin Port of Ktef in Ben Guardan," the interior ministry said. The Tunisian army and police said on Tuesday they werehunting more than 30 suspected al Qaeda-linked militants closeto the border with Algeria, and President Moncef Marzoukitravelled to the area to oversee the operation. ...

(Blank Headline Received)

Tue, 07 May 2013 14:54:05 +0300

Tunisia says it is hunting al Qaeda-linked militants

Tue, 07 May 2013 14:35:12 +0300

Tunis, May 7 (Reuters) - The Tunisian army and police arehunting militants linked to al-Qaeda near the Algerian border, aspokesman for the Interior Ministry said on Tuesday. Mohamed Ali Aroui told a news conference there were about adozen militants in the city of El Kef and about 20 in the areaof Mount Chambi. (Reporting By Tarek Amara; Editing by Pravin Char)

Tunisian army continues hunt for jihadists

Fri, 03 May 2013 16:24:06 +0300

Tunisia's army Friday pressed its hunt for a jihadist group hiding out in a border region with Algeria, an operation in which 15 security force members have been wounded, the interior ministry said.

Tunisia hunting 'armed groups' near Algeria border

Thu, 02 May 2013 19:55:37 +0300

Tunisian security forces were on Thursday hunting two armed jihadist groups near the Algerian border, the interior ministry said, as the authorities battle an Islamist threat that has grown increasingly dangerous.

Algerian President Bouteflika suffers mini-stroke

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 03:22:38 +0300

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika suffered a mini-stroke and was taken to Paris for examination, but is not experiencing any lasting effects, the APS news agency reported.

Spain: 2 Suspected Al-Qaeda Branch Members Held

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:44:01 +0300

Madrid—Police have arrested two suspected members of Al-Qaeda’s North African branch in Spain, one of whom Spanish authorities alleged praised the Boston Marathon bombings, but neither of whom was known to possess any explosives nor be planning any attack.Interior Minister Jorge Fernández Diaz asserted to reporters Tuesday that there were “sufficient grounds” to warrant the arrests, adding that they were made to avoid “greater risks.” Despite their alleged links to the terror network, Fernández Diaz described the two suspects—an Algerian and a Moroccan—as essentially acting as “lone wolves. ...

Algeria: Belhadj Arrested During Protest

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 18:21:16 +0300

Algiers—Algerian security forces arrested one of the leaders of the outlawed Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), Ali Belhadj, on Saturday, April 20. Belhadj was participating in a protest in Tizi Ouzou, 70 miles east of the Algerian capital.The protest demanded that the Algerian government give the Amazigh (Berber) language official status and recognition. ...

Algeria seeks Saudi education expertise

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 03:14:00 +0300

Algeria wants advice from the Kingdom on how to develop its higher education sector, particularly science and technology institutions and its scholarship program.This is one of the objectives of a high-level delegation led by Algerian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MHESR) Rachid Harraoubia that visited the Kingdom recently. He arrived here last week with a large contingent from the ministry to participate in the International Higher Education Conference that ended here recently. ...

France says to negotiate U.N. text on Western Sahara

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 18:29:50 +0300

* U.S. circulates resolution to allow human rights observers * Diplomats indicate Paris may not block U.N. resolution * France traditionally backs former colony Morocco By John Irish PARIS, April 19 (Reuters) - France signalled on Friday itwould push to modify a U.S. proposal to the United Nations toallow U.N. peacekeepers to monitor human rights in the disputedWestern Sahara before deciding which way it would vote. The dispute, dating back to 1975, pits Morocco, which saysthe Western Sahara is its territory, against the Algeria-backedPolisario Front, which says it is an independent state. ...

Ahamed on Algeria visit, discusses oil and gas import contacts

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 19:07:29 +0300

Algiers, April 18 (IANS) Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed, on a two-day visit to energy-rich Algeria, discussed the possibility of India signing contracts for supply of oil and natural gas with the north African nation as well as a possible joint venture for manufacture of fertiliser.

Algerian Hacker Details Cyber Attack on Israel

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:59:40 +0300

Algiers, Asharq Al-Awsat—An Algerian hacker using the handle “Ismail-man54” said that thousands of Arab and Muslim hackers opposed to Israel participated in the recent attack on 90 Israeli websites. He also said that the attack had been planned since November 2012, with the goal of wiping Israel off the electronic map.He confirmed that “the campaign will continue until this goal is achieved,” adding, “the files that were obtained after the hacking were sent to the security service affiliated with the dismissed Palestinian government in Gaza. ...

Al Qaeda denies Saharan leader killed by France - SITE

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 11:08:26 +0300

RIYADH, April 6 (Reuters) - Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb,the movement's North African arm, said French statements thatits forces had killed the group's leader in the Sahara were"blatant fallacy", a monitoring website said on Saturday. AQIM, as the group is known, did not name the leader but itappeared to be referring to Abdelhamid Abou Zeid, whose death inMali in February was confirmed by Paris "with certainty" onMarch 23. The militant group, which attacked a gas plant in Algeria inJanuary, denied the death in a statement published on Friday onIslamist internet forums, SITE, a U.S. ...

Canadian police confirm identity of Algeria attackers, seek help

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 23:27:58 +0300

* Canadians were two young men from London, Ontario -police * Police appeal for public help for more details By David Ljunggren OTTAWA, April 4 (Reuters) - Police on Thursday confirmed theidentity of two young Canadians who took part in a violentattack on an Algerian gas plant in January and asked the publicto help them find out how the two left the country. Around 70 people, including the two Canadians, were killedwhen Algerian troops stormed the Tigantourine desert gas plantand ended the siege. The Royal Canadian Mounted Policeidentified the two men as Xristos Katsiroubas and Ali Medlej. ...

Libya Will Not Extradite Gaddafi’s Son

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:55:02 +0300

Cairo/London, Asharq Al-Awsat—The daughter of Muammar Gaddafi has been granted asylum in Oman after being expelled from Algeria because he behaviour angered her hosts, according to press reports confirmed by Libya’s foreign minister.Aisha Gaddafi, a 37-year old lawyer and former UN goodwill ambassador, joined her mother Safia Farkash and her brothers Hannibal and Mohammed, who are also reported to have recently relocated to Oman and received political asylum. ...

Algeria voices fears for Syria opposition group

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 17:30:59 +0300

Algeria's foreign minister said Monday that any decisions taken by just one Syrian group will have a "very short life", after the opposition coalition was handed Syria's seat at the Arab League.

Egypt wins African Youth Championship

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 09:56:16 +0300

Oran (Algeria), March 31 (IANS) Egypt Under-20 football team snatched the 2013 African Youth Championship (AYC) title at the Ahmed Zabana Stadium here after edging past Ghana 5-4 on penalties.

Morocco Beefs Up Border Security

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:28:00 +0300

Casablanca, Asharq Al-Awsat—Morocco has increased the security level on its borders with Algeria and Mali in anticipation of jihadists’ fleeing northern Mali, as a result of French and African military intervention there.In recent weeks, Algerian authorities have arrested a number of individuals suspected of helping fighters escape Mali and enter Algerian territories illegally.An informed source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Moroccan security agencies investigated a group of individuals affiliated with the Salafi jihadist movement. ...

Oman says Gaddafi's family members granted asylum

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 19:18:57 +0300

MUSCAT/DOHA (Reuters) - Oman has granted asylum to some members of Muammar Gaddafi's family, two of whom are wanted by Interpol, an Omani official said on Monday, but Libya said it was too early to talk about any possible extradition requests. Algeria said last week that the widow of the late Libyan leader and three of his children had left its territory long ago, without saying where they had gone. They had sought refuge in Algeria in 2011 after Libyan rebels reached the capital Tripoli during the armed uprising that ended his 42-year rule. ...

Algerian Okacha replaces Abou Zeid as Qaeda-linked group's leader

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 18:45:46 +0300

ALGIERS, March 24 (Reuters) - Algerian Djamel Okacha, alsoknown as Yahia Abu El Hamam, has replaced Abdelhamid Abou Zeidas leader of al Qaeda-linked group AQIM in the Sahara region,Algerian Ennahar TV said on Sunday. Abdelhamid Abou Zeid was killed by Chadian soldiers innorthern Mali a few weeks ago. Okacha, 34, joined AQIM northern Mali in 2004, a securitysource with knowledge of AQIM told Reuters. ...

Algeria says Gaddafi relatives left its territory long ago

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 19:04:06 +0300

TUNIS, March 22 (Reuters) - Algeria has said three ofMuammar Gaddafi's children and his widow left its territory longago, without saying where the relatives of the former Libyanleader had gone. The Libyan news agency quoted the Algerian ambassador toTripoli, Abdel-Hamid Bouzaher, as saying the four had leftAlgeria "a long time ago", but did not specify when. Gaddafi's wife and three of his adult children sought refugein Algeria in 2011 after Libyan rebels reached the capitalTripoli during the armed uprising that ended his 42-year rule. ...

Al Qaeda calls for new recruits to fight France-SITE monitoring

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 22:05:32 +0300

DUBAI, March 17 (Reuters) - Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb(AQIM) has appealed for new recruits from North African Arabcountries in its fight against what it said was France'sCrusader campaign in Mali, a U.S.-based intelligence monitoringwebsite reported on Sunday. SITE said the appeal was posted on websites used by AQIM onSaturday, urging Islamist militants being pursued by theirgovernments to join its fighters battling French-led forces inMali or Algeria. ...

Algerian Ennahda Chief: Protests ‘Only Way’ to Achieve Demands

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 20:37:58 +0300

Algiers, Asharq Al-Awsat—“The more pressure you exert [on the government], the more rights you will secure” a senior Algerian Islamist told Asharq Al-Awsat.The head of the Algerian branch of the Islamic Ennahda Movement, Fatah Rabiai, emphasized that the urgent action being taken by the government to employ youth in the south of the country, in order to address the growing anger in the region, is “nothing more than a cosmetic measure” stressing that “employment policy in Algeria is based on loyalty not efficiency, experience, and equal opportunities for all Algerians. ...

Islamic Salvation Army Chief Talks to Asharq Al-Awsat

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 17:43:29 +0300

Algiers, Asharq Al-Awsat—Following the terrorist attack on the In Amenas gas plant in January, the Algerian government has been eager to reassure the international community that the country’s security is under control. However, with reports that President Bouteflika will seek to run for a fourth term in office in 2014, Algeria’s tense situation may soon be compounded by internal political struggles.Madani Mezrag is the leader of the Islamic Salvation Army (AIS), the armed wing of the banned Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in Algeria. ...

UAE, Algeria sign security pact

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:40:53 +0300

Abu Dhabi, March 12 (IANS) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Algeria have signed an agreement defining security cooperation.

UAE, Algeria sign security cooperation agreement

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 05:11:35 +0300

Abu Dhabi, March 12 (IANS/WAM) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Algeria Monday signed an agreement defining security cooperation on combating all types of crimes and exchanging information and expertise on human trafficking, narcotics and illegal trade, particularly in arms and ammunition.

UPDATE 3-Arab League clears member states to arm Syria rebels

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 21:10:00 +0300

* Iraq, Algeria, Lebanon oppose giving arms to Assad's foes * Opposition coalition wants U.N. seat * Damascus suspended from League in 2011 * Qatar leads anti-Assad efforts at League (Recasts) CAIRO, March 6 (Reuters) - Arab League ministers decided onWednesday to let member nations arm Syrian rebels fightingPresident Bashar al-Assad, and invited an opposition coalitionto take the League seat formerly occupied by Damascus. ...

Abu Dhabi prince meets Algerian president

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 23:40:37 +0300

Algiers, March 6 (IANS/WAM) Abu Dhabi crown prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has met Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and held talks on enhancing bilateral relations.

Militant says Belmokhtar alive -monitoring service

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 22:08:10 +0300

DUBAI, March 3 (Reuters) - Algerian al Qaeda commanderMokhtar Belmokhtar, reported killed by Chadian troops, is alive,a monitoring service that tracks online militant forums reporteda contributor as saying on Sunday. An unidentified participant in militant website discussionssaid in a message posted on several forums that Belmoktar was"alive and well and leading the battles himself", the U.S.-basedSITE service reported. The message said Belmokhtar, the presumed mastermind behinda hostage-taking at an Algerian gas plant in January, would soonissue a message confirming the news, SITE reported. ...

FACTBOX-North African al Qaeda's Belmokhtar

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 23:51:34 +0300

March 2 (Reuters) - Chad said on Saturday its soldiers inMali had killed al Qaeda commander Mokhtar Belmokhtar, the alQaeda mastermind of a bloody hostage-taking in Algeria inJanuary. Here are some facts about Belmokhtar: - Belmokhtar's Mulathameen group claimed responsibility forthe capture of Algeria's In Amenas gas plant, jointly-owned byBP, Statoil and Algeria's state energy companySonatrach, in January. Up to 37 foreigners died after troopsstormed the complex to end the hostage crisis in which 29militants were also killed. ...

Syria peace mediator Brahimi to stay through 2013 -UN

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 01:18:49 +0300

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 21 (Reuters) - U.N.-Arab League mediatorLakhdar Brahimi will continue his bid to broker peace inwar-torn Syria until at least the end of the year, the UnitedNations said on Thursday. The veteran Algerian diplomat took up the role in Septemberwhen he replaced former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Annanblamed a Security Council impasse for hampering his six-monthbid to broker peace and leading to his decision to step down. ...

UAE bans animal products from three countries

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 17:19:25 +0300

Dubai, Feb 10 (IANS/WAM) The UAE has banned the import of animal products from three countries -- Algeria, Bulgaria and Lebanon.

Former Algerian PM Benbitour Ready to Challenge Bouteflika

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 19:17:34 +0300

Algiers, Asharq Al-Awsat—Former Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Benbitour has announced his willingness to run for president at the expected 2014 presidential elections “if the Algerian people have a desire for change.” He stressed that Algeria cannot remain immune to the wave of change that has struck other regional countries with similar political and social conditions as Algeria. ...

Militants 'attack' Algerian barracks

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 18:59:16 +0300

Algerian troops clashed with 50 men armed with rocket-propelled grenades who attacked a barracks in northeast Algeria, leaving six soldiers wounded and two assailants dead, a report said on Thursday.

UPDATE 1-Canada says dual-national Canadian linked to Bulgaria bombing

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 00:23:05 +0300

* Suspect lives in Lebanon, still at large, says minister * Canadian also said to have coordinated Algeria attack (Adds quotes, background) OTTAWA, Feb 5 (Reuters) - A Canadian-Lebanese dual nationalwas involved in the 2012 bombing of a tourist bus in Bulgariathat killed five Israeli tourists, Canadian Foreign MinisterJohn Baird said on Tuesday. Bulgaria accused Lebanese militant movement Hezbollah onTuesday of carrying out the attack and said one of thoseinvolved had a genuine passport from Canada. "I can confirm the individual in question is a dual nationalwho resides in Lebanon ... . ...

Algerian Salafi Leader to Launch New Party

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 20:12:07 +0300

Algeria, Asharq Al-Awsat— Abdel Fattah Hemdash Zarawi, leader of the Algerian group the Free Islamist Salafist Awakening Front, a Salafist party still in its embryonic stage, said that the party’s founders recently presented its application for licensing to the authorities. He added that not allowing Salafist Islamists to partake in political activity, “May force these groups to use other means.” In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat in Algeria, Zarawi pointed out that, “Change is inevitably coming to Algeria, and if we are not the ones to effect it, others will. ...