Algerian Army destroyed 9950 of French colonial mines

The Algerian Army destroyed over 9950 land mines during December 2008. Landmines were discovered along the eastern and western borders of Algeria, said the APN. They go back to the Frecnh colonial period.

• Algerian Army launched an operation of de-mining land mines which were planted during the French colonial army in the war that lasted from 1954 to 1961 and led to Algerian independence.
• Same sources said that the second military region discovered and destroyed over 3862 anti-individual and 261 anti-groups landmines since 30 November 2008.
• The third military region destroyed 2527 anti-individual and 396 anti-groups landmines during the same period.
• Fifth military region destroyed 2862 anti-individual and 26 anti-groups as well as 16 shining mines, in the same period.
• The total number of the discovered and destroyed landmines rose to 353.306 mines, including 297.141 anti-individual and 54.917 anti-groups landmines, as well as 248 shining mines, until December 2008.
• Previously,Algeria had 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.