President Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria says although Islam is constantly accused of masterminding terrorism, the religion remains innocent. In his message to the opening session of an international symposium on terrorism, Bouteflika warned against attempts to categorise liberation movements and terror groups together. He said, in the message delivered on his behalf by Habba El-Okbi, his Secretary-General, that the fight against terrorism could succeed if the civil society was adequately mobilised to cater for the victims. The Algiers symposium, organised by the Algerian national organisation of terror victims, brings together delegates from various countries. Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena, who was a hostage in Iraq, presented a paper titled “the media as a victim of terror and war” to the participants.
