A senior Algerian official urged France on Monday to apologize for the "crimes" it committed in Algeria during the colonial era, state-run APS news agency reported.
Abdelaziz Belkhadem, the Minister of State and personal representative to the head of state, reiterated Algeria's call on Paris to apologize for what he called the "colonial crimes" it committed during its occupation of Algeria.
Addressing a gathering for the ruling party, Belkhadem expressed hope that the French authorities would confess its "historical mistakes" just like what it did with other ex-colonies like Madagascar.
Meanwhile, the senior Algerian official attacked the French right-wing parties which defend
the colonial era, accusing them of impeding the improvement of joint relations between the two countries.
French rule of Algeria lasted from 1830 to 1962, under a variety of governmental systems.
Algeria gained its independence following a 32-year resistance war against French colonialism.