Iran, which cut diplomatic relations with Algeria in 1993, has condemned the recent spate of massacres in the country and called for action by both Moslem countries and the United Nations. Maurice Gent explains:

Iran has shown open hostility to the Algerian government since it cancelled elections when Islamists were set to gain power six years ago. Now it is calling for international action to establish just what is happening and why the present security forces are unable to protect the population. Foreign Ministry spokesman, Mahmoud Mohammadi, told The Teheran Times newspaper that the Islamic world should not remain indifferent towards such shocking acts, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.

The Iranian media have frequently blamed Algerian security forces for much of the violence but this official statement calling for international action clearly takes the criticism much further. Before last year's presidential election in Iran, criticism would not have been very important for the Algerians. But under a new Presidency, which is seeking greater dialogue with the Islamic world and the United States, the Iranian view can no longer be ignored.

There is growing disquiet throughout the Islamic and Western worlds about the massacres in Algeria and the inability of the Algerian authorities to explain who precisely are the guilty groups and what is being done to capture them. The men who carry out the massacres are frequently dressed in Afghan style trousers and are reputed to have learnt their tactics during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. But some opposition groups claim the attacks are being carried out by members of the security groups wearing false beards.

Given the scale of the most recent massacre, with Algerian newspapers putting the death toll at 412, it will be difficult for the Algerian government to ignore calls for international investigation of what is happening. One factor holding Arab countries back is the long held principle that no nation should interfere in the internal affairs of another. That has been the strong complaint of Iraq over UN sanctions; and Iraq has sometimes successfully used the argument in the Arab world that its sovereignty is threatened by the UN.

The Algerian government has already come under the spotlight of Amnesty International who have suggested that the government is not doing all it could to stop the massacres - and have called for an international investigation into the violence. Now, following the loss of life at the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the demand for outside investigation and action is bound to become stronger.
 

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