Algeria Condemns Military Coup in Neighbouring Mali

Algeria voiced deep concern on Thursday over the military coup in neighbouring Mali and firmly condemned the seizure of power by a group of renegade soldiers.

“Algeria is monitoring the situation in Mali with great concern,” foreign ministry spokesman Amar Belani told the APS news agency.

 “We condemn the use of force and firmly reject any unconstitutional changes,” he said.

 “We believe that all internal issues in Mali need to be resolved through the country’s legitimate institutions.”

Algeria shares a large desert border with landlocked Mali and had recently strived to improve relations in an effort to combat Al Qaeda’s North African branch, which has stepped up attacks and kidnappings in recent months.