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News > World

Algeria Bans Le Monde over Panama Papers Reporting

  • President Abdelaziz Bouteflika looks on during a swearing-in ceremony in Algiers.

    President Abdelaziz Bouteflika looks on during a swearing-in ceremony in Algiers. | Photo: Reuters

Published 8 April 2016
Opinion

The influential paper also reported that the interior minister held offshore trusts. It planned to cover the French prime minister's visit to Algiers.

France has complained to Algeria over its decision to deny a visa for a Le Monde reporter to cover a trip by French Prime Minister Manuel Valls to Algiers after the newspaper published details of Algerian officials named in the Panama Papers.

Citing documents leaked from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, Le Monde reported that Algerian Industry Minister Abdesselam Bouchouareb set up an offshore company in Panama in April 2015.

It also published a front-page picture that included President Abdelaziz Bouteflika among other leaders with secret accounts.

Algeria summoned the French ambassador on Wednesday to complain that French media reports on the issue were a "malicious campaign" and protested again on Thursday.

Valls is due to visit Algiers over Saturday and Sunday to discuss trade ties and investment opportunities and was to be accompanied by about 20 French journalists.

Algeria fought a war of independence with France from 1954 to 1962 and ties between the two countries have at times been complicated.

Several French media said they were considering boycotting Valls' visit in protest.

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