Algerian border guards turn back Syrians expelled from Morocco

Algerian border guards (GFF) monitoring the Algerian – Moroccan western border strip refused Sunday afternoon the entry into Algerian soil of Syrian nationals, expelled by the Moroccan authorities, according to the national Gendarmerie commander based in Tlemcen province.

Colonel Mohamed Boualleg said several Syrian refugees that the Moroccan authorities wanted to expel from Morocco had been refused access into Algerian territory by the GGF border guards.

Security sources indicated that the number of Syrian refugees present in the province of Tlemcen was estimated at between 250 to 300 people.

These refugees are regularly benefiting from various forms of aid provided by the local committee of the Algerian Red Crescent and other charity associations in addition to well – meaning citizens of the province.

Colonel Boualleg further explained that the issue had been used by Moroccan media outlets at the instigation of the Moroccan authorities for disinformation purposes.

They wrongly accused the Algerian authorities of having held back these Syrian refugees as the latter were actually on Moroccan territory, he underscored.

Last Thursday, Algeria through the voice of foreign affairs ministry spokesman Amar Belani firmly denied that Syrian nationals had been pushed back as they were present on Algerian soil, stressing that these Syrians were well and truly inside Morocco.

Mr Amar Belani categorically rejected the Moroccan websites’ allegations as utterly groundless adding that they had been willfully spread by malevolent and spiteful quarters hostile to Algeria and its people.