LOC22:52
19:52 GMT
ALGIERS, June 12 (KUNA) -- An Algerian army source said on Sunday that army
units uncovered and destroyed more than 10,000 landmines last month along its
eastern and western borders dating from its war of independence from France.
The source said that army units discovered and destroyed more than 10,000
of anti-group, antipersonnel, and flare mines in the second and fifth military
region.
The source added the operation was part of a demining operation in areas
where the French army planted mines from 1956 to 1959 during the Algerian
conflict.
In 2007 Paris handed over to Algiers details of where its forces laid
millions of mines on its borders to prevent members of the Algerian resistance
movement from infiltrating Morocco and Tunisia.
Algerian newspapers regularly report mine accidents that particularly
affect herders and children.
Algiers is committed to destroying all anti-personnel mines on its
territory under the Ottawa Convention. (end)
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