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DATE=7/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235906
TITLE=ALGERIA / INSPECTIONS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  A SENIOR FACT-FINDING TEAM FROM THE UNITED NATIONS IS IN 
ALGERIA ON A RARE MISSION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED HUMAN RIGHTS 
ABUSES AND WIDESPREAD VIOLENCE WHICH HAVE PLAGUED THE NORTH 
AFRICAN COUNTRY FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS.  RICHARD ENGEL HAS MORE 
FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU.
TEXT:  A U-N DELEGATION, FORMED BY SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN, 
ARRIVED IN ALGERIA LATE WEDNESDAY.  THE DELEGATES HOPE TO 
INVESTIGATE WIDESPREAD HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN THE COUNTRY WHERE 
WESTERN OBSERVERS ESTIMATE THAT AT LEAST 65-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE 
BEEN KILLED SINCE 1992. //OPT// IN THE LAST TEN DAYS ALONE, MOVE 
THAN 90 PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES. //END OPT//
THE SIX-MEMBER TEAM IS LED BY FORMER PORTUGUESE PRESIDENT MARIO 
SOARES AND ALSO INCLUDES REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE UNITED STATES, 
INDIA, KENYA, FRANCE AND JORDAN.
SO FAR, THE ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT HAS PROMISED TO COOPERATE WITH 
THE INVESTIGATORS DURING THEIR TWO-WEEK VISIT, SO LONG AS THEY 
RESPECT THE COUNTRY'S LAW -- A PROVISION THAT IS LIKELY TO 
PREVENT THEM FROM MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF ARMED ISLAMIC GROUPS 
WHICH THE GOVERNMENT BLAMES FOR MOST OF THE VIOLENCE.
THE TEAM IS, HOWEVER, EXPECTED TO MEET WITH MEMBERS OF ALGERIA'S 
PARLIAMENT AND OPPOSITION ACTIVISTS. THE U-N REPRESENTATIVES MAY 
ALSO VISIT RURAL VILLAGES AND TALK MASSACRE SURVIVORS.
SEVERAL AND ALGERIAN INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS HAVE CAST 
SERIOUS DOUBTS ON THE GOVERNMENT'S CLAIM THAT ISLAMIC MILITANTS 
ARE ENTIRELY TO BLAME FOR THE SIX YEARS OF VIOLENCE WHICH STARTED
AFTER THE GOVERNMENT CANCELED ELECTIONS THAT THE ISLAMISTS WERE 
SET TO WIN.
THE GROUPS SAY THAT SECURITY FORCES OR GOVERNMENT ARMED MILITIAS 
MAY HAVE AT LEAST A PASSIVE ROLE IN THE VIOLENCE. THEY ARGUE THAT
MANY OF THE MOST GRUESOME MASSACRES HAVE OCCURRED WITHIN EARSHOT 
OF ALGERIAN MILITARY OR POLICE INSTALLATIONS.
ALGERIA HAS BEEN RELUCTANT TO ALLOW OUTSIDE OBSERVERS TO 
SCRUTINIZE ITS INTERNAL CONFLICT, BUT INTERNATIONAL CONCERN HAS 
BEEN MOUNTING AS THE BODIES OF MASSACRE VICTIMS CONTINUE TO PILE 
UP. (SIGNED)
NEB/RHE/PCF
23-Jul-98 9:27 AM EDT (1327 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.