The Algerian authorities have arrested a senior leader of the outlawed political party, the Islamic Salvation Front. Mr Abdelkader Hachani was arrested on Tuesday night after giving a series of interview in recent days to a number of European newspapers. Mr Hachani was released from prison last summer following a trial that came five years after he was first taken into custody. Our North Africa correspondent, Heba Saleh, reports.

Until his arrest, Mr Hachani was the most senior leader of the Islamic Salvation Front still at liberty in Algeria. He was the man who led the party to its near victory in elections in 1991, before the army stepped in and scrapped the poll sparking off the current conflict.

Last summer Mr Hachani was handed down a five year sentence, but immediately released from prison because he had already spent that period in custody. Mr Hachani gave his first on the record interviews to European journalists in recent days as hundreds of civilians were massacred in Algeria and as the European Union decided that it had to react by sending a delegation to Algiers.

He said the contribution of his party to the political process was vital for the restoration of peace. He also suggested that the international community should use its good offices to persuade the Algerian authorities to hold talks with all political forces including the Islamic Salvation Front.

Mr Hachani also proposed the holding of a national reconciliation conference without foreign intermediaries to be followed by a commission of inquiry into the massacres. Mr Hachani's words were extremely measured and he was at pains to point out that nothing should be done to undermine the sovereignty of Algeria, or hurt its population, through for instance, the use of sanctions.

The arrest of Mr Hachani appears to be yet another attempt by the Algerian authorities to prevent the Front from trying to garner support to reinsert itself into the political process.

The Algerian president, Liamine Zeroual has repeatedly said that the party would not be permitted to make a comeback.
 

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