Ouyahia: "the greatness of Algeria prevents us from responding to insults"

ALGIERS - Algeria has "chosen not to respond to inappropriate insults" after qualifying of her team to the World Cup 2010 marked by violence and a media campaign that followed the decisive match against Egypt in Sudan, said Thursday Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia.

•    "Algeria has to maintain a status and chose not to respond to comments completely inappropriate and devoid of any meaning" and "This attitude has been more striking than any other answer," said in Algiers Ouyahia, quoted by APS, in conjunction with a meeting with employers and unions in Algeria.
  
     The attitude taken by Algeria to the statements "were substantiated by any other calculation or embarrassment" and "insults or attacks do not diminish the value and greatness of the people and the Algerian state," he added.
  
     The two meetings that the Egyptian and Algerian teams had to play on 14 and 18 November in Cairo and in Sudan, and after which Algeria has qualified to World Cup 2010, were marred by violence from supporters in Egypt, Algeria and Khartoum.
  
     On 12 November, the bus carrying the Algerian team in Cairo was attacked with stones and three players were injured. Violent incidents have followed the game and the local Egyptian companies in Algeria have been the target of protesters.
  
     The crisis took a turn with diplomatic protests in Cairo at the Embassy of Algeria, and the recall for consultations of the Egyptian ambassador in Algiers who, in turn, was summoned by the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  
     "During the years of terror (in the 90 editor's note) where we endured the worst ordeals we had found no one on our side" (...) "But thanks God, we have triumphed," said Ouyahia, according to APS, in response to Egyptian attacks calling Algeria the countries of "violence and terrorism".
  
      
  Ennaharonline/ M. O.