The European Union (EU) on Monday hailed the “crucial” role played by Algeria as leader of the international mediation team for the conclusion of the Peace and Reconciliation Accord in Mali and its effective implementation. “The EU hailed the “crucial” role played by Algeria in the peace process in Mali,” …

Algerian soldiers killed eight armed Islamist militants in an operation south of the capital on Sunday, the defence ministry said. It said the eight “terrorists” were killed in an ambush in a mountainous area of the Medea region, about 80km south of Algiers. Arms and ammunition were seized, it said.

EU foreign ministers on Monday agreed to boost the bloc’s anti-people smuggling operation in the Mediterranean to include training of the Libyan coastguard and enforcing a UN arms embargo. Ministers also agreed to extend Operation Sophia’s mandate by one year, a statement said, as the European Union tries to stem …