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  1. The Centre for Solidarity with the Media was opened by the International Federation of Journalists in Algiers

  2. Tahar Djaout died of his injuries on 2 June 1993, after having spent a week in a coma. Writer and poet in French , he had worked as a journalist for the newspaper "Algérie-Actualité". In 1993, he had created the weekly newspaper "Ruptures".

  3. After that attempted murder, Omar Belhouchet escaped two

  4. There is only one television station in Algeria, ENTV, which faithfully follows the official

  5. The "Maison de la Presse" was sited in old barracks, where most of the private press is regrouped, as well as the offices of the International Federation of Journalists, photo agencies and video production agencies. Situated near the centre of town, the building looked after by uniformed orderlies.

  6. Apart from the three journalists mentioned, the explosion resulted in 21 deaths and more than 80 hurt amongst bystanders.

  7. Boussaad Abdiche was killed by a bomb placed in a cultural centre. See the list produced by the Committee to Protect Journalists, Annex No. 1.

  8. In 1997, two employees of the ENTV were killed; a camera woman, Louisa Ait Adda (on 26 June 1997) and a technician, Zoubida Barkat (on 30 August 1997).

  9. Liberation. 7th June 1993.

  10. On 1 June 1993, Abdallah Belabassi, claimed on national television that he had guided the murderers of Tahar Djaout to the scene of the crime.

  11. The Islamic Salvation Front is an Islamic group whose objective is the setting up of an Islamic Republic in Algeria. Its two leaders, Abasi Madani and Ali Belhadj were imprisoned in June 1991, following the violence attributed to members of their party. On 26 of December 1991, the FIS won the first round of the legislative elections, 188 of 231 seats claimed and 47% of the votes. The elections were marked by a weak level of turnout of 61%. The second round never took place. The electoral process was stopped by the army and the FIS dissolved.

  12. Le Courier International of 13 October 1994.

  13. A murder attempt signed by two emirs" in Le Soir d'Algerie" 11th of February 1998.

  14. A non-governmental organisation, based in New York.

  15. Interview broadcasted by TF1, mentioned in "El Watan" on 6th of November 1998.

  16. The statement appeared on December 11th, 1996 in "Al Ribat", a bulletin close to the AIS, circulated in London.

  17. International Federation of Journalists, Report 1997: Journalists killed in the struggle for press freedom.

  18. His column "From the corner of the eye" is published in the back page of "Liberté".

  19. The escalation of violence has known several phases: attacks against the security forces, against intellectuals, against journalists and since September 1996, mass murder of civilians.

  20. 1$ is worth 58 dinars (rate of February 1997)

  21. From January 1998, following several massacres that cast a shadow over the month of Ramadan, the Algerian authorities stop using the argument of "residual terrorism" .

  22. Directive 41 of 1996.

  23. La Tribune, February 20, 1995.

  24. In the beginning newspapers did not have a choice. They were deprived of State advertising in August 96, following a series of articles that were disapproved of at a high level. See section E "Harassment, Pressure and Suspensions".

  25. Published by APS (official agency).

  26. Two new titles have appeared since January 1998: "La Nouvelle Republic" and "Demain d'Algérie".

  27. The main shareholder of "Liberté" is Mohand Rabrab.

  28. According to a survey carried out by the daily newspaper "El Khabar" on 24 March 1997, only 5% of Algerians read the press.

  29. In December 1991, the FIS threatened to hang two French speaking journalists, accused of being Trojan Horses for Colonial France.

  30. In absence of an independent organism that checks circulation figures, the numbers are provided by the Directors of these newspapers.

  31. Contrary to what is said by the French association "Reporters sans Frontières" for whom the free press is "entirely subject to the central authority", see letter of "Reporters sans Frontières", No. 120, February 1998, page 1.

  32. El Moudjahid, El Djoumhouria, Ennasr, Horizon, as well as most provincial newspapers.

  33. El Watan, article of Y.B., 29 October 1997, page 24. Mr. Zeroual is the President of the Republic, Mr. Betchnine and Tewfik are his close counsellors, and considered as the most powerful men in Algeria.

  34. El Watan, article of Y.B., 3 November 1997, page 24.

  35. El Watan, article of Y.B., 23 December 1997, page 24.

  36. El Watan, article of Y.B., 14-15 November 1997, page 24.

  37. Liberté, 15 November, 1997, pages 1 and 3.

  38. Liberté, Article of SAS, 2-3 January 1998, page 23.

  39. El Watan, 31 December, 1997, page 4.

  40. Liberté, 22 December 1997, page 24.

  41. Le Soir d'Algérie, 26 October 1997, pages 1 and 2.

  42. El Watan, 24-25 October 1997, pages 1 and 2.

  43. El Watan, 24-25 October 1997, pages 1 and 2.

  44. Le Soir d'Algérie, 26 October 1997, page 24.

  45. Ibidem, p.2.

  46. El Watan, 26 October 1997, page 1.

  47. 14-15 November 1997, page 1.

  48. El Watan, 24-25 October 1997, page 24.

  49. Liberté, 26-27 December 1997, page 24.

  50. Ibidem. Page 3.

  51. El Watan, 17 December 1997, page 4.

  52. Liberté, 3 February.

  53. El Watan, 29 July, 1997, page 1.

  54. (53) Liberté, 5 January 1998, page 24.

  55. Liberté, February 26, 1998, page 1.

  56. El Watan, January 4, 1998, page 1.

  57. Le Matin, January 1, 1998, page 1.

  58. Liberté, December 19-20, 1997, page 1.

  59. Liberté, December 25, 1997, page 1.

  60. Liberté, January 4, 1998, page 1.

  61. The newspapers referred to are: El Khabar, La Tribune, Liberté, Le Soir d'Algérie, El Watan, Le Matin.

  62. Liberté, December 17, 1997, page 24.

  63. Ali Yahia Abdenour is also the lawyer of the two leaders of the FIS, currently in prison. He is one of the most ardent defenders of a political dialogue with the representatives of these parties.

  64. There are other Human Rights organisations: the National Observatory of Human Rights (governmental) and the Algerian League of Human Rights (non-governmental).

  65. El Watan, January 3, 1995, page 2.

  66. El Watan, 20 November 1996, page 5.

  67. In a statement made on 26 September, the GIA claimed responsibility for the murderers committed in Algeria, justifying themselves by saying that they consider their victims as "impure tyrants", with the authorities being "their parents, and partisan. That is why [the GIA] hunts these partisans down, in the villages and desserts, eradicates them, destroys their fields, captures their wives and confiscates their goods".

  68. The Black Book on Algeria, Amnesty International,1997.

  69. Le Matin, February 26, 1998. Page 3.

  70. El Watan, 7-8 November, 1997, page 1.

  71. La Tribune, December 19-20, 1997, page 1.

  72. Human Rights Watch Report, February 1998.

  73. The cartoon, published on Algeria's National Day depicted two men in a street, with the Algerian flag flying. The first man asks: "Is it for the 5th of July?". The second replies: "No, they are hanging out the dirty laundry!".

  74. See page 19.

  75. El Watan, November 11, 1997, page 1.

  76. It is Salima Ghezali that was in charge of launching this newspaper.

  77. "La Nation" was distributed by the newspaper "Liberté" that has its own network.

  78. Le Monde Diplomatique, March 1996, pp 17-20.

  79. Entreprise Nationale de Television ENTV, owned the State and known as "L'Unique" - the only one.

  80. El Khabar, March 24, 1997 pp 2 to 5.

  81. Middle East Broadcasting Centre, broadcast from London.

  82. El Watan, March 3, 1998.

  83. El Watan, November 2, 1997, page 24.

  84. Satellite dishes appeared in Algeria in 1997.

  85. El Watan, November 17, 1997 page 12.

  86. Soheib Bencheickh, Marianne et le Prophète, Grasset, Paris 1998. In Algeria, Islam is the State religion (Article 2 of the Constitution).

  87. La Tribune, January 23-24, 1998.

  88. El Watan, January 4, 1998, page 4.

  89. The Algerian authorities refuse to call the Islamic armed forces other than terrorists. This is probably in order to distinguish the moderate Islamic members that are represented in Parliament and in government, where they have 7 Ministers.

  90. El Watan, October 30, 1997. Page 24.

  91. In Directive No. 17, made public in November 1997, President Zeroual requested the State media to open up to society and correct the image of Algeria in the outside world.

  92. El Watan, February 12, 1998, page 1.

  93. Liberté, February 12, 1998, page 3.

  94. The Troika, visited Algeria from 16 to 18 January 1998.

  95. Members of the European Parliament visited Algeria on 8 to 12 February 1998.

  96. Liberté, February 12, 1998, page 3.

  97. El Watan, February 12, 1998, page 5.

  98. The Algerian authorities delivered 561 visas to foreign journalists in 1997 and 243 during the first three months of 1998.

  99. No journalist is currently in prison.

  100. Le Soir d'Algérie, March 9, 1998, page 3.

  101. Le Matin, February 20-21, 1998, pages 2-3.

  102. Ibidem.

  103. Ibidem.

  104. Ibidem.

  105. La Tribune, February 26, 1998, page 8.

  106. Ibidem.