Algeria hit by surge in guerrilla violence

[phylay]

Bizarre jamais sma3ti biha Pandora!
If I tell u rmitili el ma, this means rhentini, nkertini, nsitini...etc u can add neglect, ignore, tiri la chasse (kima yqoul Abdu)...etc

[Al-khiyal]

"His reconciliation activity was disturbing Salafist group"

Prominent member of GSPC assassinated

[Al-khiyal]

.....Algerian newspapers reported Monday that four armed Islamists were killed during the weekend by security forces.

Three died in a clash at Alma, in the Tizi Ouzou region, 110 kilometres east of Algiers, while an "emir" (head) of an armed group was reported to have died at Tikdjda, near Bouira, 120 kilometres southeast of the capital.

More than 30 people are reported to have died in violent incidents in Algeria since the start of July.

[lazzhar]

Bizarre jamais sma3ti biha Pandora!
If I tell u rmitili el ma, this means rhentini, nkertini, nsitini...etc u can add neglect, ignore, tiri la chasse (kima yqoul Abdu)...etc

Khsara 3lik !!
Ya weddi eddenia wa machaghilouha datna, plus the lack of internet access are all behind that.
sorry Khiyal for hijacking the thread

[Al-khiyal]

.....sorry Khiyal for hijacking the thread

mafi mushkilla ya lazzhar, because it's your first offence I'll give you an amnesty

[Al-khiyal]

ALGIERS, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Algeria is deploying more troops near Islamist rebel strongholds east of Algiers in preparation for a possible increase in attacks following the expiry of an amnesty next week, residents said on Tuesday.

A large number of military vehicles carrying helmeted troops has entered the Kabylie region this month, they said, apparently to step up pressure on rebels who reject the latest government plan to stabilise Africa's second largest country.

Residents reported seeing convoys of armoured personnel carriers and trucks snaking through the region's forests and gorges and the installation of additional military positions.

Military officials declined to comment on the reports.

"Soldiers are settled in this region waiting for the green light to 'clean' the mountains," said security expert Ahmed Alouane who lives in the region.

More than 2,200 Islamist ex-fighters have been freed from prison under the amnesty, aimed at reconciling a nation whose stability is key for the security of the Mediterranean region.

But of an estimated 800 rebels still fighting, only about 250 to 300 have given themselves up in exchange for immunity under the six-month programme, expected to expire on Aug 28.

"It's not an offensive deployment, at least not for the moment. There are zones where negotiations are still going on to persuade the terrorists to come down," said security analyst Mounir Boudjema.

"But when the deadline passes I expect a show of force against those who refused amnesty."

Oil exporter Algeria plunged into conflict in early 1992 after the then military-backed authorities scrapped a parliamentary election that radical Islamists were set to win.

The violence cost up to 200,000 lives and $20 billion in economic losses due to a sabotage campaign by Islamist rebels.

Security has improved sharply since the height of the revolt when more than 27,000 rebels roamed the country.

But experts say more than 100 die-hard rebels remain at large in the Kabylie mountains thanks to criminal and family links in the area and the astute use of remote terrain.

Most belong to the main rebel group, the al Qaeda-linked Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC).

Security expert Lies Boukraa said poor local policing and lack of intelligence meant the GSPC had "a lot of freedom" in Kabylie. Several hundred others are active elsewhere in the country, but the Kabylie group is seen as the most determined.

The corpse of former GSPC militant Abdelaziz Kheroubi, who had tried to persuade GSCP members to accept the amnesty in recent months, was found by an army patrol in a forest in the Kabyle Tizi Ouzou district on Sunday, El Khabar daily reported.

He had been shot dead, it said. Kheroubi gave up fighting in 2005 and had since urged others to follow his example.

The amnesty, which started on Feb 28, gave guerrillas still fighting six months to surrender and be pardoned, provided they did not commit massacres, rapes and bombings of public places.

Algeria masses forces as rebel amnesty winds down

[Al-khiyal]

National Army units continue their deployment in the Sidi Ali Bounab area in the Kabylie Mountains. They have encircled all possible ways leading there in an attempt to comb the area searching for the remaining terrorists belonging to the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat. On our way to the mountain, in the eastern part, many villages seemed to be abandoned.

Only few people were out and had to walk long distances for shopping. We also met some elements of the national army going back to their barracks situated in the mountains of Ighil in Naciria. Arms on shoulders, they were carrying telecommunication equipments. They were astonished to see us there and one of them said: “you are risking your lives here.”

Villagers of Amaghnine, Ahmadan, Ait Slimane and Ouarbashan confirmed that they are still living in fear and awe. Belaid, one of the inhabitants of Ahmadan, said that the army strengthening indicated an aim to eradicate the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat in their stronghold, the leaders of which are still sowing fear. He also wished this time to be the last time for eradicating the group which refuses to repent.

Mhand, a villager from Ouarbashan described the army build up as “the night of the big strike” on the Group’s stronghold. He also said that the area is more dangerous than Kabul (Afghanistan) and that it gives refuge to the most dangerous organisation in North Africa.

Reliable sources informed us that in the area of Sidi Ali Bounab (from the west of Boumerdes to the east of Tizi Ouzou) the number of terrorists still carrying out terrorist acts is estimated to be 200. All of them belong to the so called “Green Squadron”. This latter group has resorted to new ways of terrorizing by filming terrorist acts they commit and broadcasting them via the Internet. In addition to that they kidnap citizens and rich people and blackmail their families to ask for a ransom for their release.

We had the opportunity to talk to one of the soldiers. And one of them told us that the army is ready to carry out any attack against the stronghold of the terrorists who refuse to surrender and abide by the law. Their number is reducing more and more and people are no more scared of them.

When leaving the area where we noticed that there were many security checkpoints along the way to Sidi Ali Bounab, and the inhabitants confirmed that they were ready to help the army clean up the area from terrorists.

"The most dangerous terrorist group in North Africa to be eradicated"