Magharebia

A new Algerian police unit specifically created to combat kidnappings will soon be operational, Interior Minister Yazid Zerhouni said Sunday (July 28th) in Lakhdaria. "Our priority and our efforts were exclusively focused on fighting terrorism, but with the emergence of this new scourge, it is necessary for us to adjust our counter-measures," L'Expression quoted Zerhouni as saying on the sidelines of a visit by President Bouteflika to Bouira province. Some 375 kidnappings were reported in 2007, Zerhouni said. Of these, 115 were directly related to financing of terrorist groups. Tizi Ouzou province has experienced most of the country's reported kidnappings, followed by Boumerdés, Tlemcen, and Batna.