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DATE=8/4/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236507
TITLE=ALGERIA / U-N (L-ONLY)
  BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
 DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  IN ALGERIA, A UNITED NATIONS FACT-FINDING TEAM IS 
CONCLUDING / HAS CONCLUDED (EDS: WATCH CN COPY FOR CORRECT USE) A
TWO WEEK VISIT TO INVESTIGATE WIDESPREAD REPORTS OF HUMAN RIGHTS 
ABUSES.  BEFORE LEAVING ON TUESDAY, THE PANEL THANKED THE 
ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT FOR ACCESS TO BOTH OFFICIALS AND OPPOSITION 
LEADERS.  RICHARD ENGEL HAS MORE FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU.
TEXT:  THE ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT APPEARED ANXIOUS TO DISPEL 
ACCUSATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AND GAVE THE U-N TEAM BROAD 
ACCESS TO OFFICIALS AND OPPOSITION GROUPS.  THE U-N PANEL WAS  
NOT  PERMITTED, HOWEVER, TO MEET DIRECTLY WITH MEMBERS OF THE 
BANNED ISLAMIC SALVATION FRONT.  
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SIX-MEMBER TEAM, LED BY FORMER PORTUGUESE 
PRESIDENT MARIO SOARES, SAID THE PANEL DID MEET WITH GOVERNMENT 
MINISTERS, MILITARY GENERALS, NEWSPAPER EDITORS, HUMAN RIGHTS 
ACTIVISTS AND RELATIVES OF MASSACRE VICTIMS.
THE TEAM ALSO VISITED A MAJOR ALGERIAN PRISON WHERE IT MET THREE 
LAWYERS WHO REPRESENT MEMBERS OF THE ISLAMIC SALVATION FRONT.
ON MONDAY, THE U-N TEAM MET WITH ALGERIA'S PRESIDENT LIAMINE 
ZEROUAL, BUT DETAILS OF THEIR DISCUSSIONS WERE NOT MADE PUBLIC.
THE TEAM'S OFFICIAL REPORT IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE RELEASED FOR 
SEVERAL WEEKS. MR. SOARES SAID THAT THE PANEL NEEDS TO REVIEW THE
HUNDREDS OF DOCUMENTS AND TESTIMONIES IT COLLECTED DURING THE 
VISIT BEFORE FILING ITS REPORT.
BUT A SPOKESMAN FOR THE PANEL SAID IT WILL MEET IN PORTUGAL IN 
THE COMING DAYS TO COME UP WITH A FRAMEWORK FOR THE REPORT.
///REST OPT/// AMONG THE TESTIMONIES COLLECTED IS A CLAIM BY ONE 
HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP THAT SECURITY FORCES COULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR 
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF NEARLY 20-THOUSAND PEOPLE IN THE PAST FOUR 
YEARS ALONE.
HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS IN ALGERIA AND ABROAD ACCUSE THE GOVERNMENT 
OF HAVING PLAYED AT LEAST A TACIT ROLE IN THE MASSACRES, WHICH 
HAVE RAVAGED ALGERIA FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS.  THE GROUPS ARGUE 
THAT MANY OF THE MOST GRUESOME MASSACRES OF VILLAGERS HAVE 
OCCURRED WITHIN EARSHOT OF MILITARY OR POLICE INSTALLATIONS.
ALGERIA'S GOVERNMENT BLAMES THE VIOLENCE ON REBELS -- WHOM THEY 
CALL TERRORISTS -- FROM THE ISLAMIC SALVATION FRONT.
WESTERN OBSERVERS SAY THAT AT LEAST 65-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN 
KILLED SINCE VIOLENCE ERUPTED IN 1992. IN THAT YEAR, THE 
GOVERNMENT CANCELED ELECTIONS THE ISLAMISTS WERE LIKELY TO WIN. 
(SIGNED) 
NEB/RHE/SB/PCF
04-Aug-98 1:49 PM EDT (1749 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.