Algeria protests to UN over assaults on its embassy in Tripoli

Algeria has filed a protest with the United Nations over the attacks on its embassy in the Libyan capital of Tripoli, the Algerian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday. Algeria's permanent representative to the world body handed over a protest letter of Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the official news agency APS reported, quoting a foreign ministry spokesman. The spokesman, Amar Belani, said Ban insists on restoring public order in Tripoli and protecting diplomatic missions there. The UN chief also indicated that he is to discuss the assault on the Algerian embassy with Mustapha Abdul Jalil, chief of the Libyan National Transition Council (NTC), Belani said. Ban said he is to give instructions to his personal representative so that the issue would be discussed in upcoming regional meetings, according to Belani. Ban also called on Libyan parties to take required measures to prevent such incidents from reoccurring, and to protect foreign nationals in Libya. The embassy of Algeria in Tripoli has been subject to violent acts, as several vehicles and properties were damaged and stolen by armed men Sunday night and early Monday morning, after the rebels captured Tripoli, APS reported. Rebels have been charging Algeria of backing up the regime of Gaddafi with mercenaries and arms, an accusation categorically denied by Algeria.