Excerpt from document
(S/NF) As of Friday afternoon, January 30, there has been
effectively no Algerian public reaction to the January 28 ABC
News story (reftel). This could change in days to come
depending on media coverage and government response. Initial
government response, per reftel, has been restrained. We
have received numerous press inquiries from Algerian and
international news outlets, and we expect the story to
receive heavy coverage in the January 31 print media, as
newspapers do not publish on Fridays and the story broke too
late in the day on January 28 to make the January 29 Algerian
press.

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Content
S E C R E T ALGIERS 000107

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2024
TAGS: PREL, PINR, KPAO, MARR, ASEC, AMGT, KMSG, AG
SUBJECT: ALGERIA SCANDAL: LOCAL REACTIONS, EAC ACTIONS

REF: ALGIERS 106

Classified By: Ambassador David D. Pearce; reasons 1.4 (b, d and g).

1. (S/NF) As of Friday afternoon, January 30, there has been
effectively no Algerian public reaction to the January 28 ABC
News story (reftel). This could change in days to come
depending on media coverage and government response. Initial
government response, per reftel, has been restrained. We
have received numerous press inquiries from Algerian and
international news outlets, and we expect the story to
receive heavy coverage in the January 31 print media, as
newspapers do not publish on Fridays and the story broke too
late in the day on January 28 to make the January 29 Algerian
press. The story has not aired on Algerian state-controlled
television, nor would it without government approval. It has
also received very little coverage so far on pan-Arab
satellite networks Al-Arabiya and Al-Jazeera.
State-controlled mosque sermons at midday prayers on Friday,
January 30, mentioned neither the story nor the U.S. The
Hydra police chief told us on January 30 he was aware of the
story, but said that it "does not change our relationship" or
cooperation related to the security of Embassy facilities and
personnel.

2. (S/NF) On January 29, Ambassador convened a meeting of
Emergency Action Committee members, including A/DCM (P/E
chief), GRPO, RSO and PAO. The group reviewed the breaking
ABC news report and Department guidance for meetings with
Algerian officials in both government and security liaison
channels. Results of those initial government contacts were
reported reftel. A/DCM, as EAC chair, and RSO followed up
separately and repeatedly throughout January 29 and 30 with
EAC members from MGT, CONS, MSG and DAO as post kept its
security posture under continuous review. RSO sent out
several SMS alerting all staff to keep a low profile,
maintain personal security, and reminding all Mission
personnel of the importance of staying vigilant, reporting
any suspicious activities immediately. The MSG Detachment
has been on alert, and keeping a record of all incoming phone
inquiries, passing relevant media information to the PAO.
PAO has the lead on all press and public inquiries. We have
been in contact with Algerian government officials several
times on January 29 and with the MFA on the morning of
January 30. During the afternoon of January 29, we exercised
the Embassy cascade emergency phone tree, also transmitting
instructions to ensure that section heads had all American
and local staff accounted for and reachable in an emergency.

3. (S/NF) We will convene a full EAC meeting the afternoon of
January 31, to review the Saturday press coverage and assess
its impact. Currently, RSO and GRPO report no specific
threat information against the Embassy, American staff or
American interests. Ambassador has called on the
Minister-Delegate of Defense, phoned the Director-General of
the Americas and transmitted our cleared guidance to both
(reftel). PAO has alerted all PD LES on strictly passing
all inquiries to the PAO, and PD LES have been monitoring
local and pan-Arab media throughout the Algerian weekend.
Ambassador sent out a brief message (also transmitted by
email to NEA/MAG) to the entire Embassy community on Thursday
evening, which will greet all staff when they begin the work
week on the morning of January 31.

4. (S/NF) Our next step is to assess the Algerian public
response following the expected press coverage on January 31.
The Hydra police chief confirmed to RSO that any assistance
needed to support the Embassy in the immediate future will be
made available. As of late afternoon on January 30, the
Algerian public had seen very little of the story, and given
its absence from Friday mosque sermons and Algerian
television, the government seems content to keep it that way
and avoid arousing popular passion. The official reaction,
from the Defense Ministry to the MFA and local police,
continues to reflect appreciation for the guidance we have
provided and a shared desire not to let the story have a
negative impact on our bilateral relationship.

5. (U) Points of contact for this cable are RSO Kevin Whitson
and A/DCM Mark Schapiro.
PEARCE