Algerian authorities protest US embassy warning

16/04/2007

[File] Zerhouni

The Algerian foreign ministry criticized the US embassy's charge d'affaires over a warning issued to US citizens regarding possible attacks on the Algiers Central Post Office and the Algiers state television offices on Saturday. No such attacks occurred, and although the notice stated that the reports of the potential attacks were "unconfirmed," the Algerian foreign ministry claims that the warning caused unnecessary panic in Algeria's capital. The Algerian government issued a statement describing the warning as "unacceptable, counterproductive and irresponsible." Local press reports quote Interior Minister Yazid Zerhouni as saying, "Who has an interest in causing panic? It is clear that this is scheming. You do not need an official statement to understand that."

El Khabar quoted a communiqué from the US Embassy stating that the warning was addressed to US nationals in Algeria because "according to US law and Department of State policy, the US Ambassador in Algiers is obliged to share any reliable information about a potential threat likely to endanger the life or property of US nationals in Algeria." (El Khabar, APS, El Moudjahid, Liberte, El Watan, Reuters, AFP)