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Algeria stiffens control on Libyan border to ensure security

Xinhua, February 17, 2016 Adjust font size:

Algeria has been reinforcing military presence on the borderline with violence-ridden Libya amid potential foreign military operation against IS-linked groups, local media reported Wednesday.

Quoting a security source, Echorouk newspaper reported that army troops deployed on border with Libya have been put in alert and ordered to open fire on any armed individual attempting to enter the Algerian territory.

The source added that Army Chief of Staff, Major General Gaid Salah ordered to stiffen security around oil and gas plants to thwart any potential terror attack, similar to that of 2011 in In-Amenas gas plant, near Libyan border, which left more than 30 foreign workers dead.

Gaid Salah has also required to get constant reports on the situation on the border with Libya, in a bid to catch up with any security gap.

According to intelligence reports, Western troops are preparing to carry out military strikes against strongholds of rebel groups, which would force them to change their positions by sneaking to Algeria.

Following the fall of the regime of Muammar Gaddafi and the outbreak of a civil war in Libya, Algeria deployed some 50,000 troops, including anti-terrorist units, along its 1,000 km borderline with this neighboring nation.

Yet, Algeria is working closely with neighboring nations to Libya in a bid to avoid a foreign military intervention, by encouraging Libyan warrant parties to stick on the political process.

Last week, Algeria said Libya's neighboring nations are set to hold a meeting to discuss ways of accelerating the political process in this violence ridden country. Endit