EU agrees to send mission to Algeria

The European Union has confirmed it will send a diplomatic mission to Algeria as soon as possible to discuss the wave of political killings there.

After a meeting of senior EU officials in Brussels, a spokesman said the timing of the visit would have to be agreed with the Algerian authorities.

Britain, Austria and Luxembourg will represent the EU.

Officials say the mission will attempt to understand the situation on the ground and hear Algerian views at first hand.

The BBC correspondent in Brussels says the EU is also keen to discuss ways of offering humanitarian aid, even though Algeria has made it clear it does not want international assistance.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service