King Mohammed holds phone talks with Algerian president

Morocco's King Mohammed VI held on Monday phone talks with Algerian president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

The sovereign expressed to the Algerian head of state sincere condolences, sympathy and solidarity, following the floods that hit several northern regions in Algeria over the weekend.

The sovereign also told the Algerian president that in addition to emergency humanitarian aid sent Monday to Algeria, Morocco is mobilizing all its means to support the Algerian people in this tragedy in order to alleviate its painful effects on victim families.

King Mohammed VI had earlier sent the Algerian president a message of condolences and sympathy following the heavy casualties of the floods that hit Algeria and that left over 500 people dead.

"I learned with deep sadness and affliction the death of a great number of victims following the torrential rains that hit sisterly Algeria," the sovereign had said in his message extending to the Algerian president and people his saddest condolences and sincere sympathy.

The sovereign also extended condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families and prayed God to grant the Algerian president and families of victims patience and solace and to welcome the victims in His mercy and vast paradise.

The sovereign also issued instructions to the Mohammed V Solidarity Foundation and the Moroccan government to send emergency humanitarian aid to Algeria.

The aid, channeled on Monday to Algeria by special flights, comprises medicine, blankets and tents. The Moroccan government has supplies 4.5 tons of medicine and 500 blankets while the Mohammed V Solidarity Foundation contributed 2 tons of medicine, 200 tents with a total capacity of 1,200 places and 5,000 blankets.

Meanwhile, 30 civil rescue agents were put at the disposal of Algerian authorities.