Belaiz: I learnt about decision to free Islamists in newspapers

Algerian justice minister Taib Belaiz refused to give more details about President Bouteflika’s decision to free several thousand Islamists from prison. “I just read what you read in newspapers,” he said.

• Taib Belaiz avoided answering journalists’ questions about remarks made by former senior member in the banned-Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) Hachemi Sahnoune. He cited senior sources at the President’s Office saying Abdelaziz Bouteflika will sign a presidential decree to release more than 4,000 Islamist detainees on the Independence Day.
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• The ministers quickly left the corridor of the People’s National Assembly (APN) and refused to comment about Hachemi Sahnouni’s remarks.
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• FIS’ former member said the decision will touch people who were jailed in 1991 and 1992 and were not involved in collective murders and rape.