Leaders of banned Islamic party freed after 11 years in jail

TWO leaders of Algeria’s banned Islamic Salvation Front party were freed after being jailed for threatening state security more than a decade ago.

The authorities released the leader of the banned Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) party, Abassi Madani, 72, from house arrest shortly after his second-in-command, Ali Belhadj, 47, was released from a military jail south of Algiers, a lawyer for the two said.

"The two leaders are completely free," said lawyer Abennour Ali-Yahia.