Al Qaeda exists not in Algeria

Foreign affairs minister

Al Qaeda exists not in Algeria

El Khabar, 7 october 2007

Algeria foreign affairs minister reaffirmed yesterday the country’s refusal to host any foreign military bases on its territories. He further underscored that al Qaeda is not an Algerian phenomenon.
M. Mourad Medelci dispelled doubt concerning whether Algeria has been sought to host a military base on its territories, stating “Algeria enjoys its full capacities to counter terrorism”.
In his statements to radio channel 3, Mr. Medelci reiterated that “Algeria sovereignty is indisputable, and military bases on the Algerian territories are not on the agenda.”
He said “terrorism is a trans-national phenomenon and each state has get organized to fight it within its borders”, as “military bases cannot set everywhere terrorism exists.”
As for al Qaeda effective existence in Algeria, the chief of the Algerian diplomacy replied “Al Qaeda is not an Algerian phenomenon. It has its ramifications everywhere.” Adding that “it merely takes advantage from the media focus after attacks it commits.”
Mourad Medelci said the authors of kamikaze attacks “innocents”, transformed to “kamikaze bombers and destructors often against their will.”

07-10-2007
By Atef Kedadra/ Translation by N.K