16/01/2008
Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem criticised UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon’s decision to appoint an "independent panel of investigation" to "probe all facts" on the December 11th terrorist attacks in Algiers, APS and international press reported on Tuesday (January 15th). Speaking on the sidelines of the First Alliance of Civilisations Forum in Madrid, Belkhadem dubbed the decision a "unilateral measure" which Algeria cannot "favourably welcome". He added that "The Algerian ambassador to the UN was not consulted and Algeria's point of view was not taken into account."
Ban Ki-moon's spokeswoman Michele Montas told reporters on Monday that the Secretary General is setting up a panel of non-UN experts to investigate the bombings and that the panel would seek the Algerian authorities' full co-operation. According to Montas, the probe aims to improve security for its staff and premises not only in Algiers, but worldwide. Algeria would not be involved in the selection of the panel's staff.