The body of the al Qaeda-inspired gunman who murdered seven people in France this month remained unburied yesterday after both Algeria and the city where the shootings took place refused to allow the ceremony to be carried out on their turf.
Mohamed Merah, a Frenchman of Algerian origin who was shot dead by police last week following a siege at his home in Toulouse, was set to be buried in the North African country at the request of his father, who lives there. However, the mayor of the Algerian village of Bezzaz declined the request for security reasons. Toulouse mayor Pierre Cohen postponed burial there, asking the French government for guidance.
“Pierre Cohen believes that his burial in the Toulouse region is not appropriate,” a spokesman said. – (Reuters)