Madani calls for reconciliation, halting violence

Former leader of the Islamic Front for Salvation, Abbasi Madani, yesterday called for putting an end to the acts of violence in Algeria which claimed the lives of 12,000 victims so far, and for a national dialogue excluding no one."

In a statement to the Belgian "La liber" via telephone from Kuala Lumpur, Madani said there is no way to continue the conflict and instead of that "we have to make negotiations in order to reach reconciliation including all sides in the country without ruling out anyone side."

Madani denounced the Algerian presidential elections in 2004. He said that there is "no legitimacy for the elections when people are not free," noting that this (the election), will only contribute to prolonging the conflict.