Algeria accepts Hollande's 'regrets' over joke

Algeria has declared that it is satisfied with French President François Hollande"s "sincere regrets" over the "interpretation" of a joke he made in a speech to a French Jewish organisation. Socialist ministers claimed Monday that relations between the two countries have "never been so good".

Algerian Foreign Affairs Minister Ramtane Lamamra Karim Makzouz/Wikimedia Commons

Hollande sparked protests from Algeria's Foreign Affairs Minister Ramtane Lamamra and from the French opposition when he told the French Jewish group, Crif, that Interior Minister Manuel Valls had just returned "safe and sound" from a trip to Algeria, adding "That's already a lot."

But Lamamra's spokesperson, mar Belani, on Sunday said the minister had taken note "with satisfaction" of a statement from the president's office that expressed Hollande'ss "sincere regrets for the interpretation of his statement".

The crack was "the subject of unfounded controversy", the statement said.

"Everyone knows the friendly feelings Francois Hollande holds for Algeria and the great respect he has for its people," it added.

Labour Minister Michel Sapin stepped into the breach on Monday, slamming the French opposition for "leaping on anything" to criticise the government.

Jean-François Copé of the mainstream right-wing UMP accused Hollande of making a "verbal gaffe", while former budget minister Valérie Pécresse called the remark "exceptionally clumsy".

Hard-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon declared himself "nauseated" by the remark.

France and Algeria have close ties but also a troubled history, after Algeria broke from French rule in a 1954-1962 war that left some 1.5 million Algerians dead.

Socialist parliamentary leader Bruno Le Roux on Monday declared that "relations with Algeria have never been so good".