09/05/2006 (Agence Europe) - In a press release on 9 May, President Borrell welcomed the announcement made by Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika that presidential pardon had been granted to a number of journalists condemned to prison sentences for “outraged, defamation or insult”. Josep Borrell said he hoped the announcement would point to reform of the penal code being considered in earnest. He recalled that, during his visit to Algeria in March this year, he had raised the problem with all his interlocutors, and had held a “long discussion with the directors of the most important newspapers in Algeria”. On the other hand, Mr Borrell regretted the fact that Mr Benichou, former director of the daily Le Matin, has not been granted pardon.