The Algerian authorities have asked all foreign correspondents to leave the country. Even journalists who went to the country purely to cover the release on Wednesday of the founders of the Islamic Salvation Front - FIS - have been asked to leave. The order was given on Thursday morning by an official of the Algerian ministry of communication and culture. Some of the journalists have left the country already, but others are preparing to leave by Thursday's afternoon. In the meantime, they have been restricted to their hotels and banned from covering events linked to the liberation of the FIS leaders. On Wednesday afternoon, the ministry ordered resident correspondents not to write stories related to the freedom. The ministry of communication and culture ordered reporters not to say a word about the freedom of the FIS officials. It is believed that the action of the Algerian Government is intended to prevent the coverage of Friday prayers in case the released leaders decide to show up at the prayers from which they have been banned as a precondition for their release. The released leaders are banned from all social, political, cultural and humanitarian activities. At the end of his 12-year detention, Abbassi Madani, one of the two released leaders, signed a document agreeing to submit to all the orders. However, his assistant Ali Belhadj refused to sign.
| "Nope. Nope. Ain't gonna do it..." |
He also refused protection by security agents.
| "I gots me own hard boyz, coppers!" |
Some believe that the government's clampdown on the media may encourage Mr Madani and Mr Belhadj to make public statements denouncing the government - which in turn, may result in them being sent back into detention.
| Simple, huh? Cause -> Effect. Works every time... |
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