Attaf: UN mission cannot talk to Salvation Front party

Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf denied that the mission of the international delegation visiting his country in the coming weeks is a mission of investigation and fact finding, stating that the mission is only "informative", and that it comes according to an Algerian initiative to present a clear image to the international community about facts that have been distorted.

Moreover Attaf stated that the works and communications of the delegation would be confined to the legal parties, a reference to Party of the Salvation Front that is legally prohibited in Algeria.

Attaf said that the delegation's report will be delivered to the secretary-general of the UN, Arab League and the Organization of African Unity where it will not be discussed at all, referring to the difference between the role and nature of this delegation that will assess the situation. The nature and role of an investigative committee, he said, would be to set up a report that includes resolutions and recommendations.

The delegation upon which Algeria has agreed to will be headed by Mario Soares, a former president of Portugal.