Algeria said to cancel arms deal over Israel

CAIRO [MENL] -- Algeria was said to have canceled a major defense contract with France because of concern that Israeli components would be used.

Algerian sources said the cancellation by Algiers was part of a policy by President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika that required guarantees from foreign suppliers that Israel would not supply components for systems ordered by the North African state. The sources said the Algerian Defense Ministry has demanded the review of all components and their source of origin in foreign weapons deals.