ALGERIA: Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci says his country will recognise "without any hesitation" a government that represents all the Libyan people

Record ID: 278664

  • Title: ALGERIA: Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci says his country will recognise "without any hesitation" a government that represents all the Libyan people
  • Date: 12th September 2011
  • Summary: ALGIERS, ALGERIA (SEPTEMBER 11, 2011) (REUTERS) ALGERIAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS MOURAD MEDELCI AND SOUMEYLOU BOUBEYE MAIGA, MALI'S MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DURING PRESS CONFERENCE VARIOUS OF GATHERED MEDIA MORE OF MEDELCI AND MAIGA SPEAKING VARIOUS OF GATHERED MEDIA / PRESS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ALGERIAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS MOUR
  • Embargoed: 27th September 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Algeria, Algeria
  • Country: Algeria
  • Topics: War / Fighting,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAAZ9ZA62GDBWVZMNR8SD68SY9Y
  • Story Text: Algeria will recognize Libya's new leaders when they establish a representative government, Algeria's foreign minister said on Sunday (September 11). This is despite Libya's interim rulers heavily criticising Algeria's decision to shelter Gaddafi's family as an "act of aggression".
    The ousted Libyan leader's wife Safia, daughter Aisha and sons Mohammed and Hannibal entered Algeria on August 29 after the Libyan leader was ousted from power in a six-month rebellion. Aisha gave birth to a girl hours after crossing the border.
    Algerian Foreign Minster Mourad Medelci said, during a joint press conference with his Malian counterpart, that Algeria had been in communication with Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) for 15 days and that their position was clear.
    "We were clear with our brothers in the transitional council about the obligation of forming a government that includes all the parties and represents all the Libyan people and we will recognize it without any hesitation," Medelci said in the Algerian capital.
    Algeria's prime minister last week defended the decision to offer refuge to Gaddafi's family. He said gave examples of members of toppled Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's family being taken in by other countries. And when Saudi Arabia took in ousted Tunisian leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali earlier this year, that move did not create "such a storm", Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia said on Septmeber 4.
    Algeria is the only one of Libya's North African neighbours yet to recognise the National Transitional Council, whose fighters have taken control of the capital Tripoli and much of the rest of the country, as Libya's new government.
    Algerian officials have said they are concerned that Islamist militants have infiltrated the NTC and that al Qaeda's North African wing will exploit the chaos in Libya to acquire weapons and explosives.
    Medelci also urged "efficient reforms" in Syria and called for an end to the bloodshed as President Bashar al-Assad relentless crackdown on dissent continued.
    "Concerning Syria we have to work with the Syrian authorities to help it, secondly we have to convince the Syrian authorities to stop immediately the bloodshed, and convince of the necessity of efficient reforms," Medelci said.
    His comments came following the international seminar on security in Africa's Sahel region, which was hosted by Algeria between 8 and 9 September.
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