French President Francois Hollande acknowledges country's 'unjust and brutal' occupation of Algeria but does not apologise

• The French president acknowledged the 'suffering' inflicted on Algeria
• Mr Hollande refused to apologise during a trip to France's former colony
• Acknowledged use of torture and said there is a 'duty' to tell the truth
• 1.5million people died during the eight year struggle for independence

French President Francois Hollande today acknowledged the 'suffering' his country had inflicted on Algeria - while refusing to offer an apology to the former colony.
Speaking to the Algiers parliament, Mr Hollande admitted that 132 years of direct rule from Paris had often been 'brutal and affair'.
Mr Hollande spoke of the savage war of independence, which took place over eight years up until 1962 and claimed around 1.5 million lives.

No apology: French President Francois Hollande, pictured in Algiers on Thursday, acknowledged the 'suffering' his country inflicted on Algeria

Increased trade: President Francois Hollande, left, was invited to Algeria by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, right, for the landmark visit amid hopes of a new phase in relations

Torture was used frequently by the French military and security services as the war spread from the North African country to mainland France itself.
Mr Hollande said: 'What Algeria was subjected to for 132 years was profoundly brutal and unfair.

'That system had a name - colonialism - and I recognise here the suffering that colonialism inflicted on the Algerian people.
'There is a duty to tell the truth about the violence, the injustices, the massacres and the torture.'
Mr Hollande added that official archives needed to be opened so that historians could ensure the 'truth can come out progressively.'
Many Algerians had called on Hollande to issue an apology for French rule and for its conduct during the war for independence.
Its deep scars are felt on both sides of the Mediterranean, with a coalition of prominent Algerian politicians attacking the French for failing 'to recognise, apologise for and compensate' victims of 'its crimes.

Respect: President Francois Hollande laid a wreath of flowers at the Algerian war memorial

Mr Hollande admitted the 132 colonisation of Algeria had been 'unjust and brutal'

Mr Hollande's historic speech came a day after he arrived in Algeria on a two day state visit.
He called for a partnership 'of equals' between the two countries, but insisted he had 'not come to offer repentance or apologies. I have come to say what is true.'
Mr Hollande's predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy, also acknowledged that France's colonial rule on Algeria had been unjust but also failed to apologise.
There are up to four million French Algerians in mainland France, and Hollande said he wanted to make it easier for them to travel between the two countries.
He is also eager to boost trade, which stands at about eight billion pounds a year, and has been accompanied to Algeria by a number of business leaders.
Renault has just announced it is to build a factory in Oran, Algeria, and will produce 75,000 cars each year.
Hollande was invited to Algeria by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who will pay a return visit to France.