Algeria signs extradition agreement with Spain

ALGIERS, Dec 12 (Reuters) Algeria and Spain signed an extradition agreement today, Algeria's official news agency said, in a move that paves the way for possible deportation of suspected Islamist militants to the north African country.

The APS news agency gave few details of the accord but added the two countries were planning to draft an agreement on the fight against terrorism and organised crime.

The extradition accord was signed by Justice Minister Tayeb Belaiz and his Spanish counterpart Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar, in the presence of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and visiting Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, APS said.

The extradition accord is the third judicial agreement signed by the two countries since 2004. The two earlier accords deal with penal and commercial matters.

Algeria is concerned about suspected cells of Islamist radicals among Algerians living in Spain.

Human rights groups in Europe have said they are concerned that Algerians sent back to Algeria could be mistreated or tortured.

Algeria has dismissed these concerns as unfounded.

This year Spain has arrested several people from North African countries on suspicion of recruiting Islamist fighters for Iraq.

today the Spanish government said police had arrested 11 suspected Islamic militants in a raid in Spain's North African enclave Ceuta.

REUTERS PDM KN2213