Families of Algerian prisoners in Iraq seek end of ordeal through Algeria’s intervention

Members of about 10 families of Algerians detained in Iraq have again converged on the foreign ministry headquarters in upper Algiers to vent their discontent at the prolonged detention of their next of kin in Iraqi jails and at the total murkiness surrounding their disquieting case.

These distressed families who came from various regions of Algeria, including Chlef, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Mila and other cities, were seeking explanations and precise information from foreign affairs ministry officials about the fate of their sons and close relatives still detained in Iraqi prisons.

The recent attack launched by the terror organization “Al Qaida” on the Abou Ghreib prison in Bagdad during which over 1000 inmates reportedly fled has further flabbergasted these Algerian families who have, since then, lost all phone contact with their imprisoned relatives.

These worried families want eagerly to ascertain if their imprisoned relatives in Iraq are still safe and sound or if they have probably been killed by the armed assailants during the storming of the Abou Ghrib detention center.

Before this incident, they had a regular phone contact with them every fortnight thanks to the Red Cross and Red Crescent organizations during thei latter’s usual inspection visits to the prison.

According to Foreign ministry sources, the Algerian diplomacy is striving through various channels to secure the release of these Algerian detainees who had received in the recent months visits by Algerian embassy officials in Bagdad who inquired about their health and their detention conditions.

 The same sources also indicated that the Algerian foreign minister Mourad Medelci was slated  to pay a visit to Iraq shortly during which he would evoke the  burning Algerian prisoners’ issue with the relevant Iraqi authorities.