9th Algerian-Turkish Joint Committee: Fresh impetus to cooperation ALGIERS- Works of the 9th Algerian-Turkish Joint Committee of Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation got underway Wednesday in Algiers, co-chaired by Energy and Mining Minister Chakib Khelil and Turkish State Minister of Planning Cevdet Yilmaz. In this regard, Khelil underlined that this meeting is marked by a political context "favourable and characterised by an appreciable progress of friendship and cooperation relations between both countries." The holding of this session constitutes "a fresh impetus for the consolidation of these relations, and a warrant of joint will of both countries to boost this process," noting that relation between Algeria and Turkey "evolves positively." He added that the signing in May 2006 of a friendship treaty between Algeria and Turkey springs from this joint willingness to confer to the bilateral relations a legal aspect.

CMA-SAMPO combine harvesters, example of Algerian-Finnish cooperation
SIDI BLE-ABBES- The CMA-SAMPO project for the construction of combine harvesters, which is under finalization, may constitute an example of bilateral cooperation namely in mechanic industry, said on Wednesday in Sidi Bel-Abbes (440 km west of Algiers) the Ambassador of Finland to Algeria Risto Veltheim in the farm material construction company (CMA) of sidi Bel-Abbes he visited with local authorities representatives. The Finnish diplomat said he is in favour of a cooperation and partnership enlargement to other markets mainly telephony, wood, and medicines.

Bad weather: Five killed, roads cut and material damage
ALGIERS- Five people have lost their lives in traffic accidents and several roads are cut as a result of the heavy rain and snowfall prevailing in many parts of the country since Monday, causing damage to a number of buildings. The trunk road linking the province of Tizi-Ouzou to that of Bouira, Tirourda pass (commune of Iferhounene), and that connecting Tizi-Ouzou to Bouira, in the locality of Tizi-Nkouilel (commune of Iboudraren), have been closed to traffic because of the piling up of snow, said a source from the National Gendarmerie on Wednesday. The snow has also blocked the trunk road linking Illoula Oumalou to Bejaia province, in the locality of Fedj Chelata (commune of Illoula Oumalou), as well as the trunk road connecting Ain El-Hammam to Azazga, between the communes of Ait Yahia and Ain El-Hammam.

Aminatou Haidar condemns in Madrid "brutal repression" of two demonstrations in occupied Western Sahara MADRID (Spain)- Saharawi human rights activist Aminatou Haidar condemned Wednesday Moroccan police "brutal repression" of two peaceful demonstrations, Monday and Tuesday, in the Saharawi occupied towns of Al-Ayun and Dakhla, making "several victims." "Moroccan police and the secret service violently suppressed yesterday (Tuesday) a demonstration in the district of Maatallah, at the heart of Al-Ayun," the capital of Western Sahara occupied by Morocco. The demonstration was held to welcome twelve activists while returning from a visit to refugee camps, Haidar condemned in a statement.

Enor banks on 1.5 tons of gold production in 2010

ALGIERS- The national gold mines exploitation company (Enor) banks on a gold production of 1.5 tons in 2010 against 1.011 achieved in 2009, representing 50% increase an executive told APS. In January 2010, the company production established at 62 kg of gold and 12 kg of silver representing a turnover of about 115 million DA, said the company hold at 52% by the Australian company Gold Mining Algeria a 100% subsidiary of the British group GMA resources PLC and 48% by Sonatrach. In 2009, 848.5 kg of Enor gold were exported, generating 36 million Dollars of income. Currently in deficit, Enor launched a recapitalization that increased its capital from 1.9 billion Dinars to 3.2 billion Dinars brought by the two partners of Enor.

Cheikh Bouamrane: Death penalty can not be abolished "in all cases"

ALGIERS- President of the High Islamic Council (HCI) Cheikh Bouamrane declared Wednesday here that "death capital can’t be abolished in all cases," noting that courts have to decide whether to apply it or not. The abolition of death capital to which appeal several international bodies, including the United Nations is still debated within the council’s consultative commissions, president of HCI told a news conference. While highlighting divergences of views regarding this issue, he noted that tendency implies that death penalty can’t be abolished in all circumstances as the "punishment is one of the foundations of Islam" and its application or not "is a prerogative of courts which judge circumstances and the ins and outs of a crime." Punishment depends on the nature of crime, for "a criminal who kills a child and sells his organs for instance can’t flee death penalty." This is the reason why "justice is competent to decide on the nature of crimes, though in all cases, we can not abolish a law of shariâa."