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Further Reading

DATE=1/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-225652
TITLE=ALGERIA VIOLENCE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JESSICA JONES
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
/// RE-ISSUING TO CORRECT NUMBER OF DEATHS IN FIRST GRAF OF TEXT 
///
INTRO:   ALGERIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE RELEASED AN OFFICIAL DEATH 
TOLL FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE ISLAMIC 
INSURGENCY SIX YEARS AGO.  JESSICA JONES REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE 
EAST BUREAU THAT THE OFFICIAL NUMBERS ARE ABOUT THREE TIMES LOWER
THAN PREVIOUS, NON-OFFICIAL ESTIMATES.
TEXT:  PRIME MINISTER AHMED OUYAHIA TOLD A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE
ALGERIAN PARLIAMENT THURSDAY THAT HIS GOVERNMENT PUTS THE NUMBER 
KILLED IN SIX YEARS OF VIOLENCE AT 26-THOUSAND-536.  HE SAID THE 
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WOUNDED DURING THAT TIME WAS ABOUT 
21-THOUSAND-500.
MR. OUYAHIA TOLD LAWMAKERS THE DEATH TOLL INCLUDED BOTH CIVILIANS
AND SECURITY FORCES.  BUT THE NUMBERS DID NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT A
SERIES OF ALMOST DAILY MASSACRES SINCE THE MUSLIM HOLY MONTH OF 
RAMADAN BEGAN MORE THAN THREE WEEKS AGO.
THE ALGERIAN PRESS ESTIMATES THAT SO FAR, ABOUT TWO-THOUSAND 
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED DURING THE HOLIDAY.  BUT GOVERNMENT 
OFFICIALS HAVE PUT THE NUMBER OF CASUALTIES AT ONLY SEVERAL 
HUNDRED.
UNOFFICIAL ESTIMATES BY THE ALGERIAN MEDIA AND HUMAN RIGHTS 
GROUPS OF THE NUMBER KILLED RANGE FROM 65-THOUSAND TO 
80-THOUSAND.  SOME MEMBERS OF POLITICAL OPPOSITION GROUPS INSIDE 
THE COUNTRY CLAIM THE DEATH TOLL IS EVEN HIGHER.
THURSDAY'S OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT WAS A DEPARTURE FROM THE 
ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT'S USUAL POLICY OF SILENCE OVER THE NUMBER OF 
CASUALTIES.  OFFICIALS ONLY OCCASIONALLY CONFIRM ATTACKS AGAINST 
CIVILIANS.  WHEN IT HAS ANNOUNCED DEATH TOLLS, THE GOVERNMENT'S 
NUMBERS ARE CONSISTENTLY LOWER THAN THOSE REPORTED BY THE MEDIA 
AND OTHER SOURCES.
MR. OUYAHIA WAS SPEAKING THURSDAY AT A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE 
ALGERIAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CONVENED TO DISCUSS THE COUNTRY'S 
CRISIS OF VIOLENCE.  REPORTS SAY THE PRIME MINISTER WAS 
RESPONDING TO A SERIES OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT MEASURES THE 
GOVERNMENT IS TAKING TO PROTECT THE ALGERIAN POPULATION.
EARLIER THIS WEEK, A HIGH-LEVEL EUROPEAN UNION DELEGATION VISITED
ALGERIA TO URGE AUTHORITIES TO BE MORE OPEN TO THE INTERNATIONAL 
COMMUNITY ABOUT THE VIOLENCE.  BUT THE E-U DELEGATION FAILED TO 
CONVINCE THE ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW A UNITED 
NATIONS-SPONSORED HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATION TO PROBE THE CAUSES 
OF THE KILLINGS. (SIGNED) 
NEB/JJ/PCF/KL
22-Jan-98 9:52 AM EST (1452 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.