Algerian general in French torture case

Demonstrators in Paris demand the general's arrest

By James Coomarasamy in Paris

A former Algerian defence minister, General Khaled Nezzar, has left France one day after torture charges were brought against him.

Relatives of a man allegedly killed by the Algerian police, as well as two alleged victims of torture now resident in France, lodged separate law-suits against the General while he was in Paris to promote his memoirs.

General Khaled Nezzar is accused of torture and extra-judicial executions

Their lawyers said that although the chances of detaining the general had been slim, the cases did set an important precedent.

General Nezzar was considered the strongman of the Algerian regime when parliamentary elections were cancelled in 1992, sparking the Islamist insurgency that has so far left more than 100,000 people dead.

Prosecutors are said to have spent some time considering whether or not to instruct police to pursue the cases, which were brought under the 1984 Convention on Torture.

They decided that because the alleged victims lived in France and the general was on French soil, it was within their powers to do so.

Rare public appearance

General Nezzar is accused of being directly responsible for generalised torture and extra-judicial executions.

His book tour was a rare public appearance in the West for such a senior member of the Algerian military establishment.

Although the general, who is now retired, left Paris without being arrested, the prosecutors' decision is likely to have repercussions for the ever-sensitive Franco-Algerian diplomatic relationship.