Algeria Nixes EU Offensive Against AQIM

CAIRO [MENL] -- Algeria has rejected a European request for an offensive
against the Al Qaida network in North Africa.
Algerian Interior Interior Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni said his government
would not allow Britain and France to use Algerian air space to attack the
Al Qaida Organization in the Islamic Maghreb. Zerhouni said the two European
Union
countries have sought to send forces through Algeria to attack AQIM
strongholds along the Algerian border with Mali and Niger.
"Algeria is not willing to allow any foreign military power to use its
lands or air space to stage military or logistic operations," Zerhouni told
a news conference on Feb. 28.