Autopsy on Tibhirine monks skull is of Algeria’s prerogatives, says minister

Justice minister Tayeb Louh Monday said the Algerian judge in charge of investigating into the Tibhirine monks assassination will go to France the end of the month as part of judicial cooperation.

“The Algerian justice is the only one which handles the investigation. Algeria is the only country who has prerogatives to appoint experts to conduct an autopsy on the monks’ skull,” he told journalists.

“The Algerian justice is sovereign. Because of that, procedures will be implemented by an Algerian judge. The Algerian justice bears the responsibility of the investigation into the assassination issue. It is carried out as part of judicial accords with French justice,” he added.

He also said a visit paid by a French judge to Algiers was also part of judicial cooperation.

Algerian experts will be in charge of carrying out an autopsy on the skulls under the supervision of the French judge.

The minister said Algeria wants to fight organized crimes and terrorism in cooperation with France.