Red Cross mission to visit Algerian prisons

An information official for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Cairo announced that Algeria would allow an ICRC delegation to visit Algeria's prisons in October, the first such visit since 1992, when violence broke out after the government dissolved the Islamic Salvation Front to prevent it from winning local elections.

In response to the Algerian announcement, the ICRC released a press statement in Geneva on Tuesday saying, "The purpose of this trip will be to hold discussions on conditions and arrangements for the possible resumption of ICRC activities in Algeria," the statement said, Map reported.

"Since June 1992, the ICRC has not had staff working in Algeria on a permanent basis, although it regularly raises with authorities there the question of resuming its humanitarian activities. No agreement has been reached as yet," the ICRC said.

ICRC sources in Cairo said that they hope the Algerian authorities will allow the ICRC to reach all the detainees freely and without interference, which are the conditions authorized by the Algerian authorities.