Algerian FM reasserts the Algerian role in the fight against terrorism

Talking in a press conference yesterday on the sidelines of the African Union Summit in Kampala, Uganda, the head of the Algerian diplomacy Mouad Medelci has expressed the Algerian authorities’ consternation in the wake of the execution of the French hostage Michel Germaneau (78) by the terrorists of Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb after kidnapping him last April in the Sahel region.

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• Replying to question over the Algerian authorities’ official stand, the Algerian Foreign Minister has indicated “ We condemn terrorism in general and kidnappings in particular”. M Medelci wnet on saying” We are deeply sorry like the rest of the countries to what happened in Mali recently, position is crystal clear concerning this issue”.
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• “ Algeria following the example of the African Union’s nations is resilient to wage a war against these practices and is a key advocate for banning the payment of ransoms for terrorists”, the Algerian FM has asserted. M Medelci has indicated that the payment of ransoms contributes to the financing of terrorism.
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• M Medelci has also asserted “ We are Africans and the African Union is concerned by the Sahel region, so far security is assured by the countries located in this area”, adding “ This doesn’t exclude cooperation with other countries if necessary”.
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• For his part, the French President Nocholas Sarkozy has pledged to punish Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb after the killing of the French hostage Michel Germaneau “ This crime will not go unpunished”.
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• Talking in a televised allocution the President added” The killing of Germaneau will not weaken our resilience but it rather strengthens it”. Nicholas Sarkozy has called on the French citizens to avoid travelling to the Sahel region.
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• The French Interior Minister François Fillon has confirmed the news of the killing of Germaneau on Saturday the very next day of the joint operation carried out by the French and Mauritanian forces on the terrorists’ strongholds. He also indicated that the French hostage has most probably died two weeks ago.
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