Algeria’s government on Sunday repeated a demand that Egypt’s Orascom Telecom consult it about a plan to sell its Algerian unit to South Africa’s MTN, official media reported.

"What we are asking for and demanding is that the owners of OTA (Orascom Telecom Algerie) contact the Algerian authorities," the official APS news agency quoted Telecommunications Minister Hamid Bessalah as saying.

"The schedule of conditions (of the operating license) provides that any change of ownership … must be done with the authorization of the… authorities," he was quoted as saying.