Algeria says no to international probe into killings

ALGIERS, Jan 7: The US Ambassador in Algeria, Cameron Hume, was summoned to the Algerian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday and told flatly that no...

ALGIERS, Jan 7: The US Ambassador in Algeria, Cameron Hume, was summoned to the Algerian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday and told flatly that no international inquiry into Algerian massacres would be welcome, the official APS news agency has reported.

The US State Department had called on Monday for an inquiry into the human rights situation in Algeria after the spate of recent killings reportedly claimed lives of more than 600 villagers.

Reports said Hume was "received" at the Ministry to furnish explanations concerning the US statement.

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"The American diplomat was reminded of Algeria’s categorical rejection of any idea of an international Commission of Inquiry, regardless of where it comes from or the form or nature it takes," said the agency.

"Moreover, the Ambassador’s attention was drawn to the fact that the idea of an international inquiry that introduced doubt as to the identity of those who carry out terrorism would objectively contribute to the exculpation of the terrorists, even as they perpetrate and claim credit for their odious crimes."

In a related move Algeria’s ambassador to France lashed out at countries calling for an international inquiry into the massacres, saying they portrayed Algeria, rather than terrorists, as responsible for the killings.

Ambassador Mohamed Ghoualmi was particularly critical of France, Algeria’s old colonial ruler, which was the first to suggest Algiers was not doing enough to protect its people.

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He said calls for an inquiry, instead of condemnation of terrorism, merely served to weaken Algeria.