Algerian government critical of human rights intervention

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Mary Robinson, has been severely criticised by the government of Algeria for her interventions in support of human rights in the civil war there.

In an angry letter to Mrs Robinson, Algeria's ambassador to the UN, Mr Mohamed-Salah Dembri, accuses the High Commissioner of overstepping the boundaries of her mandate.

Mr Dembri further accuses Mrs Robinson of attacking the "honour and dignity" of his country's institutions, and complains of a lack of integrity and impartiality in her dealings with Algeria.

His outburst, contained in a letter sent to Mrs Robinson earlier this month, was prompted by remarks the High Commissioner made at a meeting with representatives of non-governmental organisations in New York on November 3rd.

At this meeting, according to Mr Dembri, she singled out the Algerian government for failing to show due diligence in protecting the civilian population from the fierce civil war raging in the country.

But a spokesman for Mrs Robinson said it was never her intention to single out any particular country or situation.

The High Commissioner and Mr Dembri met last week to discuss their differences. Mrs Robinson's spokesman described the meeting as constructive and said both sides had agreed to maintain a dialogue.

Last month, the two clashed after Mr Dembri claimed that the High Commissioner was pressing for a session of the UN Human Rights Commission to discuss the Algerian situation. Mrs Robinson wrote to the ambassador to deny having done so.

However, Mrs Robinson remains forthright in her criticism of human rights abuses in Algeria. Last month, she described the violence as "intolerable" and said "there is a terrible problem of human rights" in the country.