Retired Algerian Defence Minister arrested over war crimes

by admin
Oct 21, 2011

Former Algerian Defense Minister Khaled Nezzar has been arrested in Geneva over allegations of war crimes committed during the Algerian civil war, which started in 1992.

The 73 year-old, who is also a retired Army General, was questioned by Swiss prosecutors, before being released pending further investigations.

The Swiss human rights group Track Impunity Always (TRIAL) have accused Nezzar of inciting, directing and committing massacres, as well as torture and other human rights violations.

See report from Reuters here.

TRIAL were also involved in pursuing allegations of war crimes against Sri Lanka’s Deputy Ambassador to Germany and Switzerland General Jagath Dias.

Swiss law allows for suspects accused of human rights violations to be arrested in Switzerland, even if the crimes did not occur there. Dias has since fled to Colombo and faces arrest if he returns to Swiss territory.

See our earlier post: 'Dias faces arrest if he returns' (Sep 2011)

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