Former CIA agent in Algeria indicted for rape

2009-07-01 A US court indicted the former CIA station chief in Algiers with raping a woman last year in Algeria, international press reported on Tuesday (June 30th). Andrew Warren, 41, surrendered to authorities at a federal courthouse in Washington. He was recalled to the US last October after two women alleged that he drugged and raped them in his Algiers home. Warren could be sentenced to life imprisonment if convicted of the charges.

Libya, Algeria accelerate military co-operation

2009-07-01 Major General Ahmed Abdellah Ahmed Aoun, co-chairman of the Joint Committee for Libyan-Algerian Military and Technical Co-operation, arrived in Algeria on Tuesday (June 30th) for talks with his Algerian counterpart, Tout sur l'Algerie reported. Algeria and Libya recently began boosting military co-operation along the shared border to confront armed groups and al-Qaeda. Last week, information provided by the Libyans reportedly helped Algerian troops foil an arms-trafficking operation in the Sahara.

AU Summit begins in Libya

2009-07-01 The 13th African Union (AU) Summit of Heads of State and Government kicked off in Sirte, Libya on Wednesday (July 1st). This year's main theme will be investment in agriculture for economic growth and food security. Structural changes in the AU will also be discussed.

Meghni cleared to play for Algeria

2009-07-01 French-born Lazio midfielder Mourad Meghni completed the necessary paperwork to represent Algeria on the national level, Goal.com reported on Wednesday (July 1st). Meghni, who played for France's U-21 team, will be one of the first footballers to benefit from FIFA's recent rule change. Before June 3rd, when FIFA adopted the Algerian Football Federation's plan, dual-nationals who had played for a country's junior team could only join another country's national team before age 21. Meghni, who has the support of national team star Karim Ziani, is likely to be included in Algeria's squad for the next African/World Cup qualifier.

CRB recognised for Algeria Cup victory

2009-07-01 Algeria Cup winners Chabab de Belouizdad were honoured on Tuesday (June 30th) at a ceremony presided over by Algiers wali Addou Mohamed Kebir, APS reported. CRB players and the technical staff received a check to reward them for an outstanding football season.

Algerian football great denied Canadian visa

2009-06-29 Algerian football star Lakhdar Belloumi was denied an entry visa to Canada, AFP reported on Sunday (June 28th). Belloumi, 50, was set to join Zizou for a series of friendly matches. While Canadian customs authorities offered no explanation for the decision, some reports suggest that the action may have been prompted by an international arrest warrant issued against Belloumi in 1990 following an assault conviction in Egypt. The Interpol warrant was lifted in April. Belloumi, who played in two FIFA World Cups and was once named African Footballer of the Year, retired in 1999.

Algeria slam Albania in Med Games table tennis

2009-06-29 Algeria beat Albania in the singles and doubles table tennis events at the Mediterranean Games Sunday (June 28th) in Pescara. Algerian tennis player Eddy Chala beat Mohamed Gamal Butrtur of Libya 6-0, 6-2 to move to the second round

In other Maghreb squad action, Tunisia's handball team beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 26-24, while Morocco lost their first men's basketball game to Croatia 63-75.

Algeria ready to help Libya face bubonic plague threat

2009-06-29 Algeria is ready to help Libya face the outbreak of bubonic plague, "if it asks for that," Echorouk quoted Health Minister Said Barkat as saying on Sunday (June 28th) during an inspection visit to Oran. The minister added that Algeria is secured from "the spread of the disease, due to intensified prevention measures in the provinces" along the common border. In early June, Libyan health authorities reported 13 cases of plague near Tobruk.