As rebels in Libya continued their search for Col. Moammar Gadhafi yesterday, Algerian officials announced that Gadhafi's wife and three sons had crossed the border from Libya, and are now hiding out there. More countries are continuing to recognize the new Libyan government — except for Algeria, which remains the only North African neighbor not to address Libya as such.

Former Maine Senator George Mitchell was appointed by President Obama to serve as Special Envoy for Middle East Peace in January. Since then he’s visited Israel, the West Bank, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. Filling his dance card with the rest of the Arab world, he’s now traveling in the North African countries of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. But the role of these countries in the Middle East peace process is not well known. I. William Zartman, Professor Emeritus at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, joins The Takeaway with some history and an analysis.

Fore more information on George Mitchell's upcoming visit to the Middle East, watch the video below.