Algerian authorities admit that hundreds disappeared

In an unprecedented revelation, the Algerian authorities admitted on Thursday that it is investigating the disappearance of hundreds of families after being notified by their families.

A statement by the Algerian Ministry of the Interior said the number of applications the ministry received from families telling of the disappearance of one of its members reached 1,735.

The ministry added that among those are 212 persons the Algerian government investigated for violating the law, a matter which means the government suspects them of being members of extremist Islamist groups.

Human rights circles in Algeria and abroad say that Algerian security forces are responsible for the disappearance of a huge number of people.