ALGERIAN TALKS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29510, 11 May 1961, Page 15

ALGERIAN TALKS

Accord On Date

IN.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright > PARIS, May 10.

France and the Algerian rebels are reported to have agreed to start peace talks on or about May 18. A usually well-informed source in Tunisia, the seat of the Algerian rebel Government, said last night that an announcement would be made within the next 24 hours, the British United Press reported. A decision to start the talks may prevent a new wave of Moslem demonstrations in Algeria. The Moslems yesterday held their first demonstrations since they were driven into their own areas of the cities and towns by the generals’ insurrection last month Three Algerians were killed and 10 wounded in clashes with police when hundreds demonstrated in the port of Djidjelli, north-west of Constantine.

Several hundred more Moslems demonstrated in the village of Montebello, near Blida. At Marengo, 36 miles west of Algiers. 2000 demonstrated. But these were dispersed without violence. However, police feared that this new violence would spread to Algiers and the other major cities if the peace talks were delayed too long. The F.LN. rebels are no longer making an issue of French intentions to hold parallel talks with the rival Algerian National Movement. This had previously blocked the talks. President de Gaulle indicated in a radio and television broadcast on Monday that talks with the rebels would start soon An announcement fixing a new date for the talks is expected to be made simultaneously in Paris and Tunis.