Algerian premier says Tehran helping terrorists

Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia on Wednesday dismissed calls by Iran for the Algerian authorities to act to end the violence in the country by saying that Tehran was chief among those arming and training the terrorists.

In an speech to parliament, carried live by Algerian television, Ouyahia also criticized countries in Europe, including Britain, which allowed Algerian radical groups to operate with impunity.

"If we talk about those who contributed directly to arming the Algerians and training Algerians with regard to terrorism and striking this Muslim nation, I mention at the top of this list the Tehran regime," the premier told deputies.

"I mention the Tehran regime which today is urging us to find a solution and is trying to mobilize the Islamic world in a vain attempt against the Muslim Algeria which it helped to destabilize," he said.

He said other countries were not direct involved in the terrorism, but contributed nonetheless.

"I speak of the networks raising funds in London and the networks in some European and Arab countries which send weapons and explosives to kill the Algerian people," Ouyahia said.

"I also mention some known platforms which are the launchpads of propaganda and attacks against Algeria, whether in Europe - I mentioned London, and I mention some capitals in northern Europe.

Even some media owned by Arab and Muslim brothers in some European capitals, made criticism of Algeria their favourite subject," he said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Iranian radio called on the United Nations "to impose the wishes of the Algerian nation and the international community on officials".

BBC Monitoring (http://www.monitor.bbc.co.uk), based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.