French companies employees collectively repatriated
French threatened in Algeria
French companies employees collectively repatriated
El Khabar, 6 october 2007
The French Group Michelin announced that French worker families left Algeria under the threat of abduction by al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb terrorists, formerly the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC).
Michelin-Algérie press attaché told El Khabar that repatriation decision comes after contacts between the Algerian and French authorities.
On September 21, a terrorist attack claimed by al Qaeda targeted in Lakhdaria the French company Razel convoy. A few days earlier, two Paris Airports employees were threatened to be abducted, an attempt outmanoeuvred by Algeria intelligence services.
These events are behind the collective repatriation of French worker families who may have been advised by French intelligence services to leave Algeria owing to abduction threats.
On another side, the protection of French nationals in Algeria and counter-terrorism cooperation mechanisms were at the crux of debate between home affairs minister Mr. Yazid Zerhouni and his French counterpart Michèle Alliot-Marie.
06-10-2007
By Hamid Yes/ Translation by N.K
