LOC00:53
21:53 GMT
ALGIERS, Sept 4 (KUNA) -- The Algerian authorities decided Sunday to close
the land border crossings with Libya due to the unrest in the eastern
neighbor, a senior official announced here on Sunday.
"The decision is based on the lack of the security and custom services on
the Libyan sides of the borders," Minister-Delegate to the Ministry of State
for Foreign Affairs in Charge of Maghreb and African Affairs Abdelkader
Messahel told Algeria Radio.
"Algeria had to tighten the security measures along the borders and double
the number of personnel manning the border posts as a result of the
exceptional circumstances in Libya," he explained.
"Huge quantities of weapons have been smuggled from arms cashes in Libya
and large numbers of people have been displaced by the conflict in Libya in
the last few months.
"The exceptional security measures will be in place along the borders until
the state institutions in Libya are able to shoulder their responsibilities
and stabilize the situation there," Messahel affirmed.
Asserting non-interference in the domestic affairs of Libya, the senior
official said the return of stability in Libya remains as one of key factors
in Algeria's recognition of the Transitional National Council as legitimate
representative of the people.
The Algerian-Libyan borderline is 982 k.m. long. (end)
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