Al Jazeera submits accreditation demand to Algeria

A delegation from the Qatari television network, Al Jazeera arrived to Algeria last week to submit an official demand to accredit an office in the country, sources at the channel said.

• The delegation met with senior officials in the government who promised to study the demand especially with the forthcoming presidential elections due to be held in April, said the same sources.
• Algeria, Iraq and Tunisia are the only Arab countries which are still against the opening of an office of Al Jazeera on their lands.
• Tension has characterised the relation between Algeria and Al Jazeera since 1999 in spite of many attempts to reach a compromise.
• Observers believe that it is the right time to open an office for Al Jazeera in Algeria as it has shown professionalism especially in terms of the war on Gaza covering.