ALGERIA REACTS TO CRISES TO ITS SOUTH, RECALLING

UNCLAS ALGIERS 000177 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/MAG - NARDI; AF/W E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PTER ML MR NG AG SUBJECT: ALGERIA REACTS TO CRISES TO ITS SOUTH, RECALLING ITS AMBASSADOR TO MALI OVER AQIM PRISONER RELEASE, CONDEMNING NIGER COUP REF: BAMAKO 102 Prisoner Release Condemned -------------- ¶1. (U) Algeria recalled its Ambassador to Mali on February 23 in protest over Mali's freeing of four alleged terrorists, whose release is seen as part of a deal to obtain the freedom of a French hostage held in Mali by individuals from al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). The same day, the GOA called in the Malian Ambassador to demand an explanation. An Algerian MFA statement of February 23 announcing the recall "condemned and denounced" the release as indicating an "unfriendly attitude" and violating a bilateral judicial cooperation agreement. On the basis of that agreement, the GOA had requested last September (and reiterated in February, after the hostages were taken) the extradition of two of the terrorists who are Algerian nationals and wanted for terrorist acts. The MFA statement asserted that the prisoner release violated UN Security Council resolutions as well as bilateral and regional commitments in the fight against terrorism. The statement declared that this act will endanger security and stability in the Trans-Sahara region and serves the interests of terrorist groups acting under the banner of al-Qa'ida. Comment -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Release of the hostages is widely reported here as having been carried out under French pressure, and as part of a deal to release French hostage Pierre Camatte. Other press reports claim that some five million euros have been transferred to persons in the Sahel, with the help of a son of Libyan leader Qadhafi, to buy the freedom of the three Spanish hostages. These developments violate principles that Algeria strongly supports, i.e., no concessions such as prisoner releases or ransom payments to terrorist kidnappers. Embassy anticipates that this release will further delay the holding of the summit in Bamako of regional leaders and reinforce Algerian perception of Mali as the weak link in the region against terrorism. End Comment. Algeria Also Concerned Over Niger Coup -------------- ¶3. (U) Algeria is also following the coup in Niger with concern, and reacted the day after it occurred. A 19 February MFA communique "firmly condemned" the coup and appealed for a return to the constitutional order and a peaceful, political solution to the crisis in the context of African commitments to democracy. The statement called on all parties in Niger to pursue a national dialogue to solve the crisis. PEARCE