Execution of Touati was diplomatic failure

Anwar Malek Algiers - Hocine Bousaleh Journalist, Anwar Malek, stated that the execution of Algerian vice-consul, Taher Touati, was a heinous crime which humanity should condemn.  The execution was carried out by Tawhid and Jihad supporters which Malek marked as a miserably diplomatic failure. He warned the Algerian system of the consequences of following these principles of paying ransom, dealing with militant organisations in coastal areas and refusing foreign interference in the state affairs, just to justify its negative situation from Syrian crisis. In his interview to Arabstoday, Anwar Malek said that even if they had succeeded in releasing three diplomats who were arrested by Tawhid and Jihad movement, it was still a huge fail on their part and he presented examples of countries that had saved the lives of their citizens without having to pay big ransoms. Discussing the next steps Algeria should take in dealing with the critical and sensitive issue of the remaining arrested diplomats in Malian Gao, he said: “I believe that if Algeria behaves the same way it did during the case of Taher Touati then the situation will lead to more executions which indeed will be very shameful and distressful for Algeria. The country has faced similar scenarios with the killing of other diplomats in Iraq in 2005 whose bodies still have not been found.” Malek described the current living conditions as a "hard" and believes that President Bouteflika has a golden opportunity to try and make actual changes to get out of this crisis, adding that creating corrupted institutions and fake movements will clearly not benefit the state. Talking about Syria, he said: “The Syrian crisis is a real humanitarian tragedy with war crimes committed at the sight of the world with the involvement of Iran, Russia, China and even Iraqi and Lebanese elements through Hezbollah." He further described the mission of the new UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi as "impossible." Malek sees that the only chance for Brahimi is to directly ask President Assad to step down in their first meeting if he wants to secure his life to Russia or Iran and prevent crisis occurring in the country. From his Arab League mission to Syria he declared: "Algeria still has time to cross this negative situation towards the Syrian crisis and be able to enter a deal with the tragic situation in Syria as they did when dealing with the issue of the desert people."