Abassi Madani, chief of the banned Islamic Salvation Front
(FIS), said these
conditions were part of an initiative floated to military and
government figures to end the civil war that
had ravaged Algeria for more than a decade.
"When we call for an end to the bloodshed there must be a
general presidential pardon for all prisoners and freeing those
missing... and lifting the state of emergency," he said.
Madani, speaking to Aljazeera on Wednesday, did not elaborate.
The Islamist leader, now in his 70s, was arrested shortly
before army-backed authorities cancelled parliamentary elections
which the FIS was poised to win in 1992.
The move triggered almost a
decade of civil strife that has claimed an estimated 100,000-150,000
lives.
|
"When we call for an end to the bloodshed there must be a general presidential pardon for all prisoners and freeing those
missing... and lifting the state of emergency"
Abassi Madani,
Islamic Salvation Front leader |
The Algerian government blames Islamist groups for the often indiscriminate violence, but many have accused the government itself of taking part in the carnage.
In the past two years violence had continued at a sporadic,
reduced level.
Madani, who served 12 years for threatening state security,
was freed in July. He accepted his release on the condition that
he refrained from political activity.
He told the satellite channel that certain
officials had seen the proposal. "Not everyone in power is
against changing the situation," he said.
Algeria is due to hold presidential elections in 2004, which
will be seen abroad as a gauge of political and economic
stability in the oil-rich country.