Tibhirine: ...the French General is solely responsible for his Testimony...

ALGIERS- The French General attributing the death of the seven monks of Tibhirine in 1996 to a ...smearing... of the Algerian army is solely responsible for his testimony ,...

• The French General attributing the death of the seven monks of Tibhirine in 1996 to a “smearing” of the Algerian army is solely responsible for his testimony,” said the French ambassador in Algiers Xavier Driencourt an interview published Monday by the “Quotidien d'Oran” (private daily)
  
      “Things are clear: the declarations made before a judge (and whose publication constitutes a violation of the secrecy of the investigation) by a retired officer, whose duties at the time of the events did not permit him also handle the case," said Mr. Driencourt.
  
      Officially, the seven monks were killed by the Armed Islamic Group (GIA). But the French General in retirement François Buchwalter, former Defense Attaché in Algiers, attributed their killing to a “smearing” of the Algerian army in a recent testimony before the anti-terrorism judge in charge of the investigation in France.
  
      “The position of the French government is not that of the retired officer,” said the French Ambassador.
  
      “President Sarkozy reiterated at the occasion of the G8 summit, he is sticking with the release of GIA. For the rest, the procedure continues in serenity,” he added.
  
      “Justice is seized, the justice should tell the truth, I still stick to the release number 44 of the GIA in 1996 claiming the killing of monks. I accused nobody, I want the truth”, said Mr Sarkozy on the sidelines of the recent G8 in Italy.
  
      The GIA claimed on 26 April 1996 kidnapping of seven religious and offered to exchange prisoners against its activists. On 23 May, the organization announced that it had beheaded captives in accusing France of having “betrayed” the negotiations. Their heads were found on the 30th.
  
      A former head of the GIA, Abdelhak Layadi said Thursday that the monks had been executed by his movement.
  
      The Algerian authorities always keep silent about this matter.
  
      The National Democratic Rally (RND, Liberal) of the Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia denounced for its part, “a new provocation against Algeria.”
      
  Ennaharonline/ M. O.