Algerian Islamic Salvataion Front leader walks free from prison

Algerian's banned Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) said yesterday their provisional leader, Abdu Kader Hachani, had been freed from an Algerian prison just hours after being sentenced to five years in jail.

It praised the move but called for future action by the Algerian government, including the lifting a state of emergency in place since 1992, the release of other jailed (FIS) leaders and allowing press and political freedom.

"The Islamic Salvation Front rejoices that our brother Abdul Kachani has been freed," the FIS leadership in exile said in a statement received by a Western news agency in the French capital.