Algeria hit by surge in guerrilla violence

[Al-khiyal]

The Algerian army has killed more than 20 suspected Islamic terrorists in separate raids in the east of the country, local media reported Monday. Near Annaba, some 600 kilometres east of the capital Algiers, army units killed 19 suspected members of the GSPC terrorist group in a sweep of the region that began Friday.

In addition, two suspected terrorists were killed Sunday near the city of Boumerdes, 50 kilometres east of Algiers, following the assassination of a local police chief.

In another raid, one soldier was killed and a police officer gravely injured in the explosion of a homemade bomb near Jijel, 360 kilometres east of the capital.

Algerian army kills more than 20 suspected terrorists

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The Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC) in Algeria issued a statement dated Monday, June 26, 2006, responding to claims in the media that nineteen of its Mujahideen were killed that day by Algerian forces in an attack on their posts in mountain of Edough, in Annaba, east of the capital Algiers. The group denies that this report is true, citing it from a Mediterranean broadcast of al-Jazeera and the Algeria publication, “Le Soir d’Algerie,” and argues that the story is a fabrication meant to “relieve the pressure of the hits it [Algerian forces] got and is still getting every day, Allah Willing, from the brave Mujahideen”.

According to media reports, a combined Algerian force of roughly 800 soldiers, police and militia members launched an assault on the GSPC’s hideout on June 26 in the Edough mountains in Annaba, killing nineteen Mujahideen including the regional emir, identified as “Merouani”.

The Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC) in Algeria denies reports that nineteen of its mujahideen were killed by Algeria forces in Annaba

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2 soldiers and 2 communal guards killed in attacks in Skikda and Bouira

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Overnight on Thursday / Friday a terrorist group attacked an outpost in Albalouta, a mountain area located 20 km east of Jijel town. The attack, in which terrorists used an RPG rocket launcher, caused the death of two communal guards and the wounding of 11 others. The outpost was burned and completely destroyed.

According to well informed sources, the attack occurred at about midnight, and the terrorists used a spotlight to blind the guards and create a panic among them, two RPG rockets were then launched towards the outpost. The first shell destroyed one of the control towers, a part of which collapsed, the second targeted another side of the outpost. The terrorists then pursued their attack by opening fire with machine guns. A gunfight lasting round an hour the ensued between the terrorists and the communal guards, killing two among the latter and wounding 11 others.

Our sources said that the group was made up of 15 members led by a woman wearing a military uniform. She is believed to be from one of the remnant members of Seddat squadrons or the other squadrons belonging to the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC). The terrorist group entered the outpost and took four weapons (three Seminov and one Kalashnikov), and burned the equipment in the outpost before leaving. The two bodies of the dead communal guards were found charred inside the outpost.

The army, gendarmes and civil protection elements later arrived, and the victims were transported to the hospital of Tahir, Jijel. Four wounded communal guards are still in the hospital. Joint security forces started a sweep operation on the mountains in the area in search of the perpetrators of the terrorist attack. Security reinforcements and helicopters were noted on the scene, Thursday.

2 communal guards killed, 11 wounded in attack on outpost east of Jijel

[Al-khiyal]

Algerian military leader General Ahmed Salah Gaid has said that the armed forces would continue their "fight against terrorism" which he said was contrary to the country's culture and religion.

Violence blamed on armed Islamist groups opposed to President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's policy of national reconciliation has escalated since the start of June but Salah Gaid said the army would enforce Algeria's peace charter.

The charter put forward by the president and adopted in a referendum in September last year promises clemency to Islamic militants blamed for up to 200,000 deaths since 1992 and compensation for victims of their war with the security forces.

The army "will continue its fight against terrorism until this scourge which is contrary to our culture and the precepts of our holy religion is definitively wiped out," public television quoted Salah Gaid as saying.

Salah Gaid, who is chief of staff, was speaking during a ceremony at the EMIA military academy in Cherchell, west of Algiers, in the presence of the head of state.

Algerian chief vows to fight rebels

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A homemade bomb exploded on Thursday, inside the car market of Tidjellabine, wilaya of Boumerdes, leaving two communal guards dead and two others wounded.

The terrorists are believed to have activated the bomb from long-distance, choosing the rush-hour at the opening of the market to customers, that is, around 5:00 a.m. sources say.

It is believed that the bomb was planted near a tree at the market’s entrance, before it was activated through a cellular phone, the same sources say. The blast provoked terror and panic among the people inside the market, which is visited by thousands of people, car sellers and buyers, coming from the various wilayas of the country.

Elements of the national Gendarmerie intervened and took charge of traffic movement outside the market. At the same time, the joint security forces started a sweep operation in this mountainous area in search of the terrorists.

Thursday’s terrorist attack is the second of its kind to target the car market after last month’s blast, which resulted in two wounded. Another bomb exploded in the martyrs’ square, in the commune of Ammal, where three communal guards were wounded.

In addition, on Thursday morning a terrorist group comprising an unknown number of persons killed a 39-year-old communal guard in the place called Lafbab city, commune of Moulay Larbi. The terrorists shot their victim before taking his weapon, watch and shoes.

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GSPC clears the beaches: Holidaymakers intimidated away from La Grand Plage and Wed Bibi, west of Skikda