U.N Information delegation visits Serkaji prison in Algiers
Algeria, Politics, 7/28/1998

A United Nations information delegation, on a visit to Algeria, paid on Monday a field visit to the prison of Serkaji, in the capital city of Algiers.

The delegation took note of the situation of inmates in the high-security facility, which is located near the Interior Ministry, Map reported. The prison is one of the largest and most heavily guarded in Algeria, where it is the first time the government has allowed foreign parties to visit a prison since political violence broke out six years ago.

The delegation started on Wednesday a visit to Algeria aimed at providing a clearer picture of the prevailing situation in the country. It is expected to submit a report to UN secretary general Kofi Annan.

The delegation, headed by former Portuguese President Mario Soares, is scheduled to hold talks with Algerian officials, the leaders of pro-government and opposition parties, the leaders of pro-government and opposition parties, the leaders of civil organizations, as well Journalists.

The delegation is also scheduled to pay information visits to several areas in Algeria.

Members of human rights and Islamic lawyers say that Islamic opposition members are detained at Serkaji and they accused the Algerian authorities of killing about 100 prisoners during a protest movement in the prison two years before.

Soares did not reveal any details about what his group observed in the prison.

On Monday the group met in Algiers with the representatives of the leadership of the Socialist Forces Front, the Coalition for Democracy and Culture and the Republican National Alliance.

The international group stressed that it has been exerting efforts to get to know directly of developments of conditions in Algeria. It added that its mission is informational rather than investigative. In a statement following the meeting with the international group chairman of the Coalition for Culture and Democracy Party, Saeed Saadi, said he reviewed before the group his party's stances towards situation in Algeria.

For his part chairman of the Republican National Alliance Rida Malek described the meetings of the international group as fruitful and useful.

He stressed deliberate rejection of foreign intervention in the internal affairs of Algeria. The secretary general for the socialist forces front Ahmad Jeda' stressed the need of settling problems on the Algerian arena without foreign intervention.

Previous Stories:
  Security forces kill 60 gunmen from the GIA   (7/27/1998)
  UN delegation talks with Algerian premier   (7/24/1998)
  Red Cross mission to visit Algerian prisons   (7/23/1998)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search