Libya: Gaddafi was refused asylum in Algeria

El-Watan, an Algerian newspaper, has reported that Algeria’s government has so far refused to talk to the Libyan despot but that successful negotiations did take place over giving a refuge to Gaddafi’s wife and three of his children earlier this week.

Sources “close” to Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the Algerian President, said that he had refused to take telephone calls from Gaddafi pleading for a safe exile for himself and the rest of his family.

According to the official, Gaddafi made the calls from Ghadamis, a Libyan oasis town close to the border with Algeria and Tunisia.

“An adviser to the president apologised to the Libyan leader, saying that he was away and busy with the latest developments on national territory,” the presidential source told the newspaper. “This is not the first time Gaddafi and some of his emissaries have tried to contact the president for possible negotiations, but the Algerian position is clear and neutral, we refuse to interfere in Libyan affairs.”

Algerian officials insisted that Algeria’s decision to shelter Gaddafi’s wife Safia, daughter Aisha and sons Muhammad and Hannibal had been taken in consulation with Libyan rebels.

“Do you think that the National Transitional Council is not aware of the passage of the Gaddafi family to Algeria? I can assure you that all this was done with the agreement and the assurances of some members of the Transitional Council of Libya,” said the source

“Without the help and consent of the NTC itself, the Gaddafi family would never have reached the borders.”

Algeria today moved to recognise an interim Libyan government after being previously been wary of recognising the rebels for fear of stoking a long standing Algerian Islamic insurgency

Mourad Medelci, the Algerian foreign minister, insisted that his country would not become a safe haven for the Libyan despot.

“The hypothesis that Mr Gaddafi could come knocking on our door was never considered,” he said.