Bouteflika pardons thousands of prisoners

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has pardoned thousands of extremist prisoners who did not commit crimes of killing and terrorism.

In a statement, the office of the Algerian president said that President Bouteflika released the pardon, which he had announced last week on the occasion of the 37th anniversary of Algeria's independence on July 5, 1962.

No announcement was made on the number of people freed under the pardon, but the Algerian press estimated their number at between 5,000 and 15,000.

The statement said the pardon covers persons who were convicted of acts related to terrorism and destruction but not involved in killings and rape, and those who did not use explosives in public places.

The statement added that the president intends through this pardoning to assert his personal determination to lead the operation of restoring national reconciliation to the end, noting that justice should be applied on all.

The statement continued that through the pardoning of thousands of people involved in terrorism and those who were arrested according to the law, the president has given a deep meaning to the government's sympathy.