BENGHAZI, Libya: Libya’s rebel council issued a blunt warning to neighbouring Algeria yesterday, insisting that it must “stop supporting Kadhafi,” as tensions between the North African countries bubbled to the surface.

Abdel Hafiz Ghoga, vice president of Libya’s National Transitional Council, accused Algeria of supporting Muammar Gaddafi militarily in the early days of the near five-month-long war, and that it continued to support him politically.

“Our only response to Algeria is: stop supporting Kadhafi and stop helping him terrorise and kill innocent civilians and our loved ones,” he said.

Algeria has not officially recognised the rebel council, nor has it called for Kadhafi to go.

“(Gaddafi) had military air support from Algeria” said Ghoga, recalling the early days of the war, adding that 4x4 vehicles had also crossed the border in support of Gaddafi forces.”

“We hoped that the Algerian regime had learned its lesson and stopped these acts,” he said, without giving details about current levels of support. AFP