Algerian military warns against intervention in Libya

A senior Algerian military official has warned of the dangers of foreign political or military intervention in Libya because it would complicate the crisis in the country.

In a meeting of the Joint Military Staff Committee of Algeria, Mali, Mauritania and Niger Wednesday, Vice Minister of Defence and Chief of Staff of the Algerian People's National Army Ahmed Gaid Salah said that "any form of political and military intervention in the internal affairs of Libya will complicate the situation in Libya".

Regional cooperation is needed

Salah praised "the efforts being made to bring about a plan of mediation for a comprehensive Libyan dialogue that all parties in the Libyan arena will agree on, without resorting to violence."

He added "The ongoing developments in the area require a shift toward collaboration between the countries in the Sahel, in line with the prevailing conditions."

The Algerian military will coordinate efforts with neighbouring countries because this is the only way to eliminate terrorism.

He pledged that the Algerian military would coordinate efforts with neighbouring countries because "this is the only way to eliminate terrorism."

Salah also addressed the situation in Mali, saying Algeria is keen to find a political solution to the crisis in northern Mali that "ensures the country's unity and completes the peace agreement" between the government and the leaders of the six Azawad [Liberation] Movements.

Three rounds of peace negotiations have taken place in Algeria.

The meeting was held in the southern Algerian oasis city of Tamanrasset.

The Joint Military Staff Committee was set up in April 2010 in Tamanrasset to coordinate efforts between the four Sahel countries and counter the growing regional threat from al-Qaeda and other armed groups.

In August last year Algeria set up a security cell in coordination with Tunisia to collect intelligence on militant groups such as al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, strengthen field communications and set up a joint system to monitor al-Qaeda's funds and prevent money laundering.

This is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.