EU officials discuss Algeria mission

Senior foreign ministry officials from EU member states are meeting today to finalise the details and timing of a diplomatic mission to Algeria to discuss the continuing massacres there.

The Algerian government says the mission is welcome as long as it offers support in the fight against terrorism -- but it has rejected an international investigation into the massacres.

The BBC diplomatic correspondent says the precise mandate and details of the EU mission are therefore crucial.

But he says there are likely to be differences between EU member states; France has described the mission as a goodwill gesture while Britain says it hopes the visit will give the EU a clearer picture of the situation in Algeria.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service