Algeria immediately recalls ambassador to France

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Algeria recalled this Wednesday its ambassador in Paris, Salah Lebdioui, for "consultations". A decision that follows the broadcast on Tuesday of two documentaries on French public television: "Algeria My Love" and "Algeria: The Promises of Dawn", on France 5 and LCP, The parliamentary channel.

Publicity

The two documentaries deal with the Hirak anti-regime movement . This recall comes in a context of distrust against the French media and while repression continues to befall opponents, journalists and independent media who cover the dispute.

In a statement released Wednesday, the Algerian foreign ministry said that "the recurrent nature of programs broadcast by French public television channels, seemingly spontaneous and under the pretext of freedom of expression, are in fact attacks against the Algerian people and its institutions  ”, including the army. He also denounces "  the malicious intentions of certain circles who do not wish the advent of peaceful relations between Algeria and France.  "

At the same time, the APS, the official Algerian press agency, considered that the broadcasting of these documentaries the same evening was a real "  press campaign  " and even a "  political orchestration  ". It would be led by "  an official France which is involved informally, on a cyclical basis, in anti-Algeria.  "

Already in early April, diplomatic relations between the two countries were strained on this subject. The French ambassador to Algeria, Xavier Driencourt, had been summoned after the statements of a speaker on the coronavirus crisis on France 24 which had greatly displeased the Algerian authorities.

"  Without comment,  " reacted in the wake of the France Televisions group, of which France 5 is one of the channels.

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• Algeria
• France