Government calls for halt to fighting

ALGIERS, (AP):Algeria's ruling party called yesterday for a halt to international airstrikes on neighbouring Libya and "an immediate stop to fighting" there between rebels and forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi.

In addition to the demand by the National Democracy Assembly, Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahi also warned Algerians not to follow the example of protesters in other North African countries whose uprisings overthrew longtime leaders in Tunisia and Egypt.

After a meeting yesterday, the party said it "deplores" the western-led military operation in Libya and demanded international respect for Libya's independence and "its exclusive ownership" of its oil and other natural resources.

Algeria itself is an oil and gas producer.

After Gaddafi's forces launched a military crackdown on critics of his 42-year rule, the United Nations passed a resolution authorising force to protect civilians in Libya. The governments in the NATO-led operation launched airstrikes against Gaddafi's military to this aim, but critics have claimed it's a bid by foreign companies to have freer access to Libya's oil.