The European Parliament,

A.  appalled by the latest massacres in Algeria, in which terrorists did not hesitate to murder children,

B.  whereas, in spite of President Bouteflika's efforts, the "civil concord" campaign has not succeeded in eradicating violence in Algeria,

C.  whereas international human rights organisations report that thousands of people have gone missing since 1992 and no practical action has been taken to shed light on these disappearances,

D.  whereas the issue of de facto impunity is a major problem for the full restoration of the rule of law in Algeria,

E.  whereas the risk of instability in the Maghreb countries is bound to affect the safety of citizens of those countries and the security of European countries,

1.  Expresses its sympathy and solidarity with the Algerian people;

2.  Condemns in the strongest terms the killings, massacres and disappearances to which civilians regularly fall victim in Algeria; calls on the Algerian authorities to spare no effort to carry out the necessary investigations and bring to justice those responsible for these crimes;

3.  Calls on any Algerian political and religious leaders who may have some power or influence over the people behind the massacres to undertake to do their utmost to end the violence in Algeria;

4.  Calls on the Algerian Government to step up the dialogue with all political, democratic and civil society movements that reject the use of violence, so as to permit restoration of the rule of law and respect for human rights;

5.  Calls on the Algerian authorities to cooperate fully with the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances;

6.  Is deeply concerned at the difficulties that a number of Algerian citizens threatened by the terrorist groups are continuing to encounter in obtaining a temporary right of asylum in a Member State, and draws attention to the fact that the European Union's Charter of Fundamental Rights makes a new approach possible in this area; but at the same time underlines the need for greater vigilance in granting political asylum to Algerian nationals, when it appears that they are using such hospitality to organise operational home bases for the terrorist movements;

7.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Algerian Government and Parliament.