Terrorism has cost Algeria $16 Billion

Algerian terrorist attacks have cost Algeria up to $16 billion US in five years of conflict to the end of 1996, according to the main trade union quoted yesterday by national newspapers.

Citing the Union General de Travailleurs Algeria (VGTA). La Tribune newspaper, also quoting the union which claims over one million members, said the "cost of terrorist attacks carried out between 1991 and 1996 stood at more than 800 billion dinars (now the equivalent of $14.3 billion US).

The discrepancy in the numbers stems from changes in the value of the local currency, the dinar, against the dollar during that period, Al Akhbar daily said today.