Algeria destroyed 75% of French colonial mines

Algeria has destroyed 75% mines going back to the French colonial period, said the engineering section of the Army. The mines were planted by the French army during liberation war in the 50s.

• Mines may be described as fighters that never miss, strike blindly, do not carry weapons openly, and go on killing long after hostilities have ended. In short, mines are the greatest violators of international humanitarian law, practising blind terrorism.
• “Algerian Army took action to raise the de-mining activity in the national territories through strengthening the units in charge of de-mining the borders, reorganizing their deployment and supporting them with human and material means and equipments,” Colonal Cherfi said in the “Army” magazine.
• Army leaders decided also to start the execution of training programs and recycling of tires and members of the units specialized in de-mining the second, third and fifth military zones through showing them the international standards and also security precautions associated with this activity. A de-mining guide was prepared and published as well.
• “Army destroyed more than eight million mines since the independence, including 64235 de-mining activities in 2008, 75% of the total mines planted by the French Army during the Algerian war estimated at 10833000 mines along 4.1502 hectares in Bechar locality, south of Algeria, and 318 hectares in Tebessa, east of Algeria,” Colonel Cherfi added.
• “De-mining all the Algerian borders April 2010 is a possible mission after instructions by the President Bouteflika who said in a related statement November 2005, “I am sure Algerian Army could end its mission April 2010”.