A message to Algeria's president from his Tunisian counterpart

Algerian President Liamine Zeroual on Tuesday received a message from Tunisian President Zein al-Abidin Bin Ali. The message was delivered by Tunisian Foreign Minister Saeed Bin Mustafa during his meeting with the Algerian president in Algiers on Tuesday.

In a statement to reporters following the meeting Bin Mustafa explained that the message falls in the course of continued consultations between the two presidents concerning bilateral relations, which are built on "fraternity and consultation," as well as issues of concern to the Maghreb and Arab region.

The Tunisian FM said that during the meeting views were assessed on means of strengthening collective Arab efforts and work in the Arab region and means of creating a mechanism for relations with the other Arab states and the working systems of the Arab Maghreb states.

In another development an earthquake of 3.9 on the Richter scale hit the province of Tissemsilt, 100 km from the Algerian capital, Algiers. The Algerian centers for astronomy and physics did not record any human or material losses inflicted as a result of the earthquake.