The 17th Arab interior ministers meeting opened in Algiers on January 29 in the Algerian capital, during which the ministers will discuss issues relating to the fighting against terrorism, organized crime and drug trafficking.

During the three-day meeting, the ministers will also explore a project to reinforce security in the Arab world.

The Arab interior ministers signed a five-year anti-terrorism agreement in 1988, aimed to strengthen cooperation among their countries.

In his opening speech, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika blamed some Arab and Islamic bodies, which he did not name, of having contributed to the elongation of the eight-year devastating civil war of his country.

The north African country has been torn by a civil war, murders and massacres that started in early 1992 after the military-backed government canceled elections that the Islamic Salvation Front was poised to win. So far 100,000 people have been killed in the conflicts.กกกก

More than 1 million people have been affected by the violence in some way, Bouteflika said.

Security conditions have improved after Bouteflika, the first civilian leader of the country in 24 years, launched his initiative aimed at national reconciliation after taking office.