Algerian woman journalist accepts European prize

An Algerian journalist and human rights campaigner, Salima Ghezali, has received the Sakharov prize for freedom of expression from the European Parliament.

In a speech to the parliament, Ms Ghezali appealed for an international investigation into the massacres in Algeria since Islamist militants took up arms five years ago.

She called for an initiative to bring about a peaceful solution to the crisis.

In an interview with the BBC, Ms Ghezali said ordinary Algerian people, who were being killed on a daily basis, had received no support from the international community.

The Algerian government has rejected previous calls for international intervention as political interference.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service