Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune says he is seeking the death penalty for people found responsible for starting forest fires, following wildfires that kill at least 12 people and injure 54 in the country’s northeast.
Tebboune’s remarks come as authorities report widespread outbreaks, with the BBC noting that around 100 wildfires are recorded. He also indicates that foul play is not ruled out, suggesting some fires may be deliberate. Al Jazeera focuses on the president’s punitive proposal in response to the casualties, while the BBC emphasizes the scale of the fires and Tebboune’s caution about possible arson.
Both reports present the president’s position as an official response to the ongoing investigation into the fires’ causes. The accounts align on the death toll and the injured figure, while differing mainly in the scale details and how strongly each outlet highlights the prospect of intentional setting versus the policy proposal.
