France to compensate Algerian nuke tests victims

France confirms it will provide compensation for the victims of the nuclear tests, its colonial army conducted in the Algerian Sahara in 1960.

• The French foreign ministry spokesman Eric Chevalier said Friday; a draft law is being studied to provide compensation to the victims of these tests.
• “the draft law is being studied but not yet submitted to cabinet council”, Chevalier told reporters in Paris.
• The French government has always refuted to admit that those nuclear tests would have affected civilians in the Algerian Sahara.
• In addition to local population irradiated, hundreds of Algerians have been deported from several parts of the country and used as guinea pigs for the tests in Reggan locality south of Algeria.
• After independence in 1962, Algerian military officers have been affected by nuclear irradiation while decontaminating the area.