ALGERIA/FILE: Libyan National Transitional Council chief Mustafa Abdel Jalil arrives in Algiers for two-day official visit

Record ID: 574088

  • Title: ALGERIA/FILE: Libyan National Transitional Council chief Mustafa Abdel Jalil arrives in Algiers for two-day official visit
  • Date: 16th April 2012
  • Summary: TRIPOLI, LIBYA (FILE - MARCH 1, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF HANNIBAL GADDAFI (WITH BLACK HAIR) MEETING SWISS BUSINESSMAN MAX GOLDI IN PRISON
  • Embargoed: 1st May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya, Algeria
  • City:
  • Country: Algeria
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAAV7FEVI55IFMH8PIGYWD8YXPS
  • Story Text: The head of Libya's ruling National Transitional Council, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, arrived in Algiers for a two-day official visit on Sunday (April 15).
    He was met by Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika and the two men held talks that officially focused on strengthening relations and bilateral co-operation between the neighbouring countries.
    Algeria's relations with Libya were strained by the rebellion that overthrew Gaddafi last year, disrupting security cooperation between the neighbours that Western states believe is crucial to combating al Qaeda in the Sahara desert.
    The decision to allow Gaddafi's daughter, wife and two of his sons to enter Algeria after they fled their homes last year deepened a row that had already been simmering over Libyan allegations Algeria had been too slow to back the revolt.
    Algeria has tried to reassure Libya that it took in members of Muammar Gaddafi's family on humanitarian grounds and that they would not be allowed to meddle in Libyan affairs.
    Insurgents, including al Qaeda's North African branch and Tuareg separatists, use the Sahara desert's vast expanses and porous borders to smuggle weapons and evade capture.
    The problem has grown worse since the conflict in Libya, because huge quantities of weapons disappeared from Gaddafi's arsenals and Libyan border security largely collapsed.
    Before the conflict, Libya and Algeria exchanged intelligence on insurgents and cooperated over border security, but this ground to a halt after their row.
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register