Libya demands the extradition of Gaddafi family members.
Algerian-Libyan relations are about to enter a new turbulent period not long after the calm that began with the arranged meeting in Doha in November 2011, between President Bouteflika and the National Transitional Council (NTC) President Mustapha Abdeljalil, The Algerian Daily El Watan reports.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Libya-demands-t...
The paper says that Mustapha Abdeljalil the President of the Libyan NTC government threatened Algeria and Niger with withdrawing diplomatic relations because they refuse to allow extradition of Gadaffi family members who sought refuge in their countries following the fall of Tripoli.
We have already addressed our requirements to the states concerned, but they refuse to take steps to extradite the supporters of Gaddafi to Libya and to prevent them from acting against Libya," he argued in a press conference held in the Libyan capital, stating that "Tripoli could break (or review) diplomatic relations with countries that refuse to cooperate." He also warned that his people will "never forgive" those who refuse to hand over "criminals".
Whilst he did not mention Algeria and Niger but vthey are the only countries who accepted members of Gadaffi's family and gave them refuge.Mustapha Abdeljalil, who was visibly angry with Algiers and Niamey, ended his press conference, widely reported by international media yesterday, by sending them a stern warning that sounds like a prelude to a diplomatic crisis. "If these countries do not cooperate with us on this issue (extradition of Moammar Gaddafi's children), their relations with Libya could reach a dangerous point," he thundered, while implying that Algeria and Niger were also home to supporters of former Libyan dictator without providing evidence of his accusations.
The paper points out the numerous dtatements by human rights organisations citing evidence of torture, murder and imprisonment of members or supporters the former regime by the militias which inolve 8,000 people who are being held illegally.It points out that Niger refused to extradite Saadi Gaddafi because of a lack of an independent judiciary in Libya. It also says that there many members of Gadaffi's regime hiding in Egypt and no action is being taken against them.
The unexpected declaration by Mustapha Abdeljalil came at a time when Libya and Algeria seemed to have got over this issue and decided to renew their relationship on a new basis.It refersto the recent visit to Algiers by teh Libyan Minister of the Interior to renew security cooperation. The paper also says that Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia was scheduled to visit Tripoli.
The Algerian head of state had written to Mustapha Abdeljalil on the anniversary of the Libyan revolution praising teh new Libya and offering reconcilition between the two countries and that it was time to reconstruct the Arab Maghreb Union.Libya also actively participated in the liberation of the Wali of Illizi who had been kidnapped. No mention of the extradition of Gadaffi's family was mentioned at the time.
The newspaper observes that the statement from Mustapha Abdeljalil comes at a time of considerable internal strife in Libya as the NTC cannot control the militias who have not disbanded as requested.The paper accuses the NTC of a lack of transparency and a failure to bring peace.
It says that the NTC lacks legitimacy in the eyes of many tribes and is being squeezed by the old "thowar" (militias) demanding their share of power andthe NTC is virtually in political deadlock which it has trouble in resolving. It asks if Mustapha Abdeljalil is seeking, through the " Gaddafi dossier" to create an external threat in order to create a distraction to distract the pressure of the Libyan street? Is he trying to improve his image by seeking to extradite Saadi and Aicha Gaddafi. It comments that in politics anything is possible.
El Watan concludes that perhaps the NTC government may end up being as troublesome to its neighbours as Mouammer Gaddafi is surprised by the silence of both the Algerian and Nigerien governments following Mustapha Abdeljalil's inflammatory statements. It is not possible to predict how Algeria and Niger will deal with teh Gadaffi's but it is sure that they are becoming more of an encumbrance by the day, the paper says.
We have already addressed our requirements to the states concerned, but they refuse to take steps to extradite the supporters of Gaddafi to Libya and to prevent them from acting against Libya," he argued in a press conference held in the Libyan capital, stating that "Tripoli could break (or review) diplomatic relations with countries that refuse to cooperate." He also warned that his people will "never forgive" those who refuse to hand over "criminals".
Whilst he did not mention Algeria and Niger but vthey are the only countries who accepted members of Gadaffi's family and gave them refuge.Mustapha Abdeljalil, who was visibly angry with Algiers and Niamey, ended his press conference, widely reported by international media yesterday, by sending them a stern warning that sounds like a prelude to a diplomatic crisis. "If these countries do not cooperate with us on this issue (extradition of Moammar Gaddafi's children), their relations with Libya could reach a dangerous point," he thundered, while implying that Algeria and Niger were also home to supporters of former Libyan dictator without providing evidence of his accusations.
The paper points out the numerous dtatements by human rights organisations citing evidence of torture, murder and imprisonment of members or supporters the former regime by the militias which inolve 8,000 people who are being held illegally.It points out that Niger refused to extradite Saadi Gaddafi because of a lack of an independent judiciary in Libya. It also says that there many members of Gadaffi's regime hiding in Egypt and no action is being taken against them.
The unexpected declaration by Mustapha Abdeljalil came at a time when Libya and Algeria seemed to have got over this issue and decided to renew their relationship on a new basis.It refersto the recent visit to Algiers by teh Libyan Minister of the Interior to renew security cooperation. The paper also says that Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia was scheduled to visit Tripoli.
The Algerian head of state had written to Mustapha Abdeljalil on the anniversary of the Libyan revolution praising teh new Libya and offering reconcilition between the two countries and that it was time to reconstruct the Arab Maghreb Union.Libya also actively participated in the liberation of the Wali of Illizi who had been kidnapped. No mention of the extradition of Gadaffi's family was mentioned at the time.
The newspaper observes that the statement from Mustapha Abdeljalil comes at a time of considerable internal strife in Libya as the NTC cannot control the militias who have not disbanded as requested.The paper accuses the NTC of a lack of transparency and a failure to bring peace.
It says that the NTC lacks legitimacy in the eyes of many tribes and is being squeezed by the old "thowar" (militias) demanding their share of power andthe NTC is virtually in political deadlock which it has trouble in resolving. It asks if Mustapha Abdeljalil is seeking, through the " Gaddafi dossier" to create an external threat in order to create a distraction to distract the pressure of the Libyan street? Is he trying to improve his image by seeking to extradite Saadi and Aicha Gaddafi. It comments that in politics anything is possible.
El Watan concludes that perhaps the NTC government may end up being as troublesome to its neighbours as Mouammer Gaddafi is surprised by the silence of both the Algerian and Nigerien governments following Mustapha Abdeljalil's inflammatory statements. It is not possible to predict how Algeria and Niger will deal with teh Gadaffi's but it is sure that they are becoming more of an encumbrance by the day, the paper says.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Libya-demands-t...