Iraq will not pardon Algerian terror suspects, says al-Maliki’s advisor

Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will pay an official visit to Algeria before the end of year while it is not likely that Algerian prisoners for terror-related charges would be pardoned, according to the Prime Minister’s media advisor Ali Al-Moussoui.

Speaking about Iraq mass prison break, the advisor told Echorouk has has no accurate information about the situation of Algerian prisoners because the issue is handled by the Iraqi interior ministry.

Some reports say three Algerian prisons broke out while others said they remained in jail but they were injured.

The advisor said the Iraqi government cooperates with Algeria and all the countries which have prisoners in Iraq. “I believe that terror suspects can not benefit from any accords concluded by the government.”

Speaking about Algerians jailed for entering Iraq in an illegal way, he said the law is not against finding a solution for them. “The Algerian and other Arab prisoners are in a good situation.”

He also said relationships between Algeria and Iraq are not “cold” although there are no exchanged visits expect the Iraqi higher education minister’s visit to Algeria, a year ago and the Algerian foreign ministry’s participation to the Arab Summit in Baghdad.

“The relationships are not cold. I inform you that al-Maliki will visit Algeria before the end of the year.”