French minister of interior visits Algeria to rectify atmosphere

French Minister of Interior Jean-Pierre Chevenement is heading today to Algeria in the first visit of its sort since Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika came to power.

In Algeria Chevenement is going to take part in the conference of interior ministers from the Mediterranean countries.

Meanwhile, the Algerian ambassador in Cairo, Mostafa El-Sherif, stated that the visit is proper for convening meetings between Chevenement, Bouteflika and high-ranking Algerian officials, adding that these meetings form a bridge in French - Algerian relations after the coolness that prevailed after to election of Bouteflika.

French sources in Cairo said the visit aims at rectifying atmospheres, especially as the french foreign minister adopts an extremist stance against the fundamentalists and Armed Islamic Group in Algeria.