In order to clamp down on arms trafficking and to prevent weapons from reaching Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Algerian security forces have heightened security measures on the country's southern border, and have stepped up cooperation with their counterparts in Mauritania, Niger, and Mali.  

The new measures coincide with the visit of security delegations from Mauritania, Tunisia, and Libya.

Source: El-Shorouq El-Yawmi, Algeria, May 29, 2007