SARAJEVO: FATE OF SIX ALGERIAN TERRORISM SUSPECTS UNCERTAIN

SARAJEVO, Jan 17 (Hina) - The Council of Ministers of Bosnia- Herzegovina on Thursday discussed the case of six naturalised Bosnian citizens of Algerian origin, stating that the ongoing court proceedings against them were in line with the country's constitution and international norms. The six Algerians were arrested three months ago on suspicion of involvement in terrorist activities, including preparations for attacks on the US and British embassies in Sarajevo. The principal suspect, Bensay Belkacem, was claimed to have been linked to one of Osama bin Laden's closest associates, the alleged evidence being a recording of Belkacem's phone conversation with a senior Al-Qa'ida member. The Chairman of the BH Council of Ministers, Zlatko Lagumdzija, told reporters in Sarajevo that along with the ongoing investigation into allegations of terrorist activities, also underway were proceedings aimed at stripping the Algerians of Bosnian citizenship and banishing them from the country. The Sarajevo media claim the investigation, which has been conducted by the Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia- Herzegovina, the country's Croat-Muslim entity, has not yielded any concrete results or provided strong evidence of the suspects' guilt. The Slobodna Bosna weekly has reported that the phone conversation recording, which was held by Americans and should have been used as direct evidence in the investigation, was never given to Bosnian judicial bodies. Such an outcome of the investigation has put the Bosnian authorities in a very delicate situation, particularly in view of the fact that Algiers, as the suspects' country of origin, has not requested their hand-over. The legal deadline until which the suspects can be held in custody expires on Friday, and the issue of their deportation has not been solved yet. Human rights associations, including the Helsinki Committee in the country, have repeatedly warned that the investigation against the Algerians was not legally founded and that preparations for their unconstitutional banishment were underway. The Council of Ministers has stated that no human rights organisation has officially objected to the treatment of the group, Lagumdzija said. He also stated that said proceedings were in compliance with the law and international standards. If the investigating judge fails to make a decision on the issuing of indictments against the Algerians by tomorrow, the federal justice's last resort is the institute of extradition custody, which can last to a month. Attorneys for the suspects have said they will urge the House for Human Rights of Bosnia-Herzegovina, as the highest institution in the area of human rights, to protect their clients from deportation. (hina) rml