Algeria army will not enter Libya, says official at defence ministry

Algeria’s army will not enter Libya under any pretext. « Its belief is unchangeable. It is based on securing its borders and protecting its stability without interfering in countries’ domestic affairs, » a senior official at the Algerian defence ministry said.

« Algeria has a will and the capacity to protect its borders from any infilitration attempt. It is also ready to foil any attempt to smuggle arms or terrorists to the national territory, » the same source told Echorouk.

Earlier in May, the army forces killed 12 terrorists in the Touandert area on borders between Algeria and Mali.

« This operation shows that the army is keeping watch and a terrorist attack like that of Tiguentourine can not ahppen again with the army being vigilent. »

According to other sources, leading member of Al-Qaeda Mokhtar Belmokhtar alias Belouar was seen in Libya along with armed groups.

This comes as reports said he was arrested by armed militia while other reports indicated that General Haftar’s elements caught him.

Few weeks ago, Algerian authorities stepped up security measures on borders due to tension in neighboring countries.

Algeria closed its embassy in Libya and land borders with it after the Algerian ambassador had been rescued from a kidnapping attempt. Fifty workers at the embassy and their families were evacuated in a successful operation led by the Algerian army.