Taher Siala

Turkey's top diplomat arrived in Algiers on Jan. 6 for official talks on bilateral relations with Algerian authorities.

Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu was welcomed by his Algerian counterpart Sabri Boukadoum and Turkish Ambassador Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş.

He is to meet Algerian authorities to discuss bilateral ties and recent regional and international developments.

Hijackers claiming to have a grenade took over a Libyan plane Dec. 23 and diverted it to Malta before releasing everyone onboard and surrendering to authorities, officials said.

"Final crew members leaving aircraft with hijackers," Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said on Twitter.
Minutes later he added: "Hijackers surrendered, searched and taken in custody."