The Minister of the Interior, Mohand Laenser, announced on Monday the upcoming creation of four police districts in Sale, in order to improve security conditions in the city.

The new districts will be created in the Annahda, Sahli, Al-Karia (Douar Jbala), and Anassim neighbourhoods, the minister specified in response to an oral question in the House of Representatives on "the security situation in Sale".

Crime figures for the years 2011 and 2012 in Sale generally correspond to the national average, the minister noted, indicating that the Ministry of the Interior plans to set up two additional security districts in the city.

To another question on transport licences for small and large taxis, Mr Laenser replied that the ministry will not disclose the list of beneficiaries of these licences, which number 70,000, stressing that it is above all important to rationalise the management of this sector.

In this regard, he indicated that the Ministry of the Interior is working on a census of licence beneficiaries, given that among them are those who have passed away and others who do not deserve such a benefit. The emphasis will be placed, he said, on the rationalisation of the sector within the framework of an urban transport plan for more transparency and professionalism.

Furthermore, the Minister of the Interior assured that the appointment of walis and governors took place in accordance with the provisions of the new Constitution, noting that the list was proposed on the basis of criteria of competence and qualification.

In response to a question about statements making accusations against new walis and governors, Mr Laenser affirmed that those who hold evidence regarding these accusations are invited to have recourse to the administration or the justice system, as walis and governors "are not above the law".