Algeria determined to wipe out terrorism

Algeria says it is determined to wipe out terrorism, but still holds out a hand to Islamic extremists who renounce violence.  That’s according to a document attached to a speech given today by Algeria’s prime minister.

Reuters

The document says the terrorist threat has greatly receded thanks to government policies.

“We reaffirm that the struggle against the last strongholds of terrorism will be continued with the same determination and will lead to the total disappearance of this plague in our country," the document says.

In the speech the Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia went on to say that out of 6,448 files on people who disappeared during violence in the country, only 35 remained to be settled.

A referendum in 1999 where Algerians voted for "civil concord" led to the surrender of thousands of members of radical armed Islamic groups who had been fighting against the secular state in the north African country.