Counterterrorism: Algiers prefers cooperation with Washington to get planes without pilot

French justice has minutes of three terrorists involved in an attack on a gas field in Tiguentourine (south of Algeria) in January 2013 while the Algerian justice minister Taib Louh said the case is handled by an examining judge.

According to Europe 1 radio channel, the minutes are precious and they answered two important questions: who killed French national Yann Desjeux: terrorists or the Algerian army? Was there a conspiracy inside the gas field to ease the terrorist attack?

Speaking about Algerian-French cooperation in the case, Europe 1 said Algerian authorities do not react with their French counterparts while they prefer cooperating with the US justice under a “diplomatic and not judicial pretext.”

“Algiers wants Washington to provide it planes without pilots,” it says.

Louh Thursday told reporters at the Council of the Nation the Tiguentourine case is handled by the Algerian justice.

“The Algerian law allows anyone who was hit by this attack to be part in this case which is investigated by the Algerian justice,” he said.

“We need to let specialized judicial authorities and the examining judge to continue the investigation,” he added.