Algeria hit by surge in guerrilla violence

[Al-khiyal]

How much of a threat is Al Qaeda in North Africa?

July 2, 2008 -- A report published in The New York Times on Tuesday is likely to fuel concerns that North Africa is emerging as a major new front in the US-led global war on terror.

In the report, an elusive Algerian insurgent leader confirmed that his group had forged contacts with Al Qaeda in 2004, and that it now regards attacks on US territory as legitimate.

In a recorded response to questions from The New York Times, insurgent leader Abdelmalek Droukdal said:

"If the U.S. administration sees that its war against the Muslims is legitimate, then what makes us believe that our war on its territories is not legitimate?"...

"Everyone must know that we will not hesitate in targeting it whenever we can and wherever it is on this planet," he said.

Mr. Droukdal's group, based in the hills east of Algiers, is a terror franchise that terms itself Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). The group is responsible for numerous attacks in North Africa, including several deadly bombings in Algiers. The goals of Algerian insurgents at the time of their resurgence under the banner of AQIM were outlined by The Christian Science Monitor.

AQIM's followers kidnapped 32 European tourists in the Algerian desert in 2003, gunned down five European tourists last year in Mauritania (killing four of them), and kidnapped two Austrian tourists on vacation in Tunisia this February.

But European officials quoted by the paper disagreed on the small group's ability to strike outside Africa. One expert was skeptical that the group could pull off an attack in the US or Europe. The group numbers only 300 to 400 fighters, with another 200 supporters scattered throughout Algeria, according to The New York Times.

So far, despite its stated intentions to strike Europe and the rest of the West, investigators say they see little evidence that the North Africa branch of Al Qaeda is exporting fighters and equipment for an attack in Europe.

"Their ambition is to attack in Europe, but I wouldn't hard-sell it," said Gilles de Kerchove, the head of counterterrorism for the European Union. "I wouldn't say AQIM is poised to attack in Europe."

Indeed, while a suicide bombing last December by two formerly convicted Algerian Islamic militants in Algiers attracted attention, it also exposed the limits of AQIM, reported The Christian Science Monitor.

[While] the bombing has shown that AQIM, formerly known as the Salafist Group for Call and Combat, still poses a serious threat, analysts say this new Al Qaeda affiliate in North Africa is far from reaching its goal of building a potent force across the entire region or even striking Europe, as it says is part of its overall goal.

"Despite its pretensions to be a Maghreb-wide organization, it is mounting attacks only in Algeria," says Hugh Roberts, an independent analyst who specializes in North African politics. "The notional threat to Europe is exaggerated."

Reuters reported that the group has rarely attacked US interests in Algeria, with the exception of a December 2006 bombing of a bus carrying foreign oil workers, including one American.

An explosives expert, Droukdel was appointed leader of an Islamist rebel group called the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat in 2004, six years after it was founded with the aim of toppling the government and establishing purist Islamic state.

In October 2003, the group offered its support to the al Qaeda network and in January 2007 the group changed its name to Al Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb.

Since then it has set off a string of deadly car bombings in and around Algiers, including bombings of United Nations and government buildings in Algiers that killed at least 41 people.

Meanwhile, Agence France-Presse reported two weeks ago that the Austrian government said there was "progress" in negotiations to secure the release of the two Austrian tourists kidnapped by the group in February.

The kidnappers initially demanded the release of a number of Islamic extremists imprisoned in Algeria and Tunisia. They have since demanded a five million euro ransom (7.9 million dollars) according to unconfirmed press reports.

On June 23, Algeria's president named a "pragmatist known for his tough stance against Islamic extremists" to a third term as prime minister, according to the Associated Press, amid what it called a recent "resurgence" of violence.

Most of the recent bombings have been claimed by al-Qaida in Islamic North Africa, formerly known as the GSPC — a Salafist group that grew out of an insurgency that raged in the country in the 1990s.

Algeria's government canceled 1992 elections that looked set to put an Islamist party in power and then outlawed that party. An estimated 100,000 people died in the armed rebellion that followed, according to the International Crisis Group (ICG).

In its latest report on Algeria in 2004, the group called the persistence of armed movements in Algeria "a factor facilitating expansion of al-Qaeda's jihad."

But the ICG added that such armed groups had been dramatically marginalized, as most of Algeria's Islamists moderated their political platforms in the 1990s.

It warned that the Algerian military could use the global war on terror as a pretext for its continued domination of Algerian politics, and urged the US to be "more sophisticated in its handling of an over-played al-Qaeda factor."

... there is a danger U.S. military engagement in the region in the context of the "war on terrorism", instead of eliminating an al-Qaeda presence, may actually aggravate it by underlining the strategic weakness, dependent nature and possible legitimacy deficits of the states of the Sahel region and, especially, by providing in the U.S. military presence itself significant motives and targets for jihadi activity that were previously absent.

[Al-khiyal]

Algeria violence death toll rises in June

ALGIERS, July 3, 2008 (Reuters) - The death toll from political violence in Algeria almost doubled to 27 in June from 15 in May, according to a Reuters count based on newspaper reports.

Sixteen members of government forces, three civilians, a French engineer and seven rebels were killed in the north African OPEC member country last month.

Following are a few of the main developments:

* On June 5, six soldiers were killed when their convoy hit a bomb planted by rebels in the coastal village of Cap Djinet, about 40 km (25 miles) east of Algiers.

* On June 8, a bomb attack killed a French engineer working for French company Razel and his Algerian driver in the town of Beni Amrane in Boumerdes province, about 50 km (30 miles) from the capital. It was the first time since the 1990s that a French citizen had been killed in political violence in Algeria. France said French firms - there are more than 200 operating in Algeria - would not be driven out by armed groups.

* On June 26, three paramilitary gendarmes and a municipal guard were shot dead when they came under fire in an ambush in a mountainous area in the eastern province of Jijel, some 360 km (225 miles) from Algiers.

* On June 27, rebels detonated two bombs from a distance, killing two soldiers and wounding 11 others during a search operation by the army in a forest in Tizi Ouzou province, about 100 km (62 miles) east of Algiers.

* Thirteen rebels were sentenced to death in absentia in separate trials. Courts have handed guerrillas several death sentences in recent years but no execution has taken place since 1993.

[Al-khiyal]

Algerians denounce Droukdel's New York Times interview

July 3, 2008 -- A New York Times interview with al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb leader Abdelmalek Droukdel has generated resentful reactions from the families of those killed or injured by his group's attacks. Security experts in Algeria say the terrorist's threats to hit US and Western interests are part of the organisation's propaganda and psychological warfare.

The interview, the first of its kind for the leader, was apparently carried out by an intermediary using a tape recorder. In it, Droukdel claimed that his organisation does not target civilians and that 95% of those who died in the December 11th, 2007 bombings in Algiers were foreigners and Algerian security elements.

Algerians were quick to condemn Droukdel's efforts to justify his operations against civilians.

One reader, himself a victim of terrorist operations, commented on Algeria's Le Matin website that through his interview, Droukdel "has disclaimed all his dignity and honour as an Algerian, in the fullest sense of the word and decided to declare his allegiance to al-Qaeda."

"First and foremost", another said, "the victims of the December 11th attacks were Algerians."

Droukdel said his organisation comprised elements from Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Mali and Niger. He threatened more attacks against Algerian authorities and Western interests in Algeria and he claimed that his organisation was prepared to attack outside the Maghreb, including US interests around the world and on American soil.

Security expert Bouelam Ghoumrassa told Magharebia that through his threats against the US, Droukdel was trying to leave the impression that AQIM has a "regional as well as international dimension". However, Ghoumrassa questioned the organisation's ability to hit US interests inside the US.

"If they had had the ability to do so, they would have done it before talking about it," the expert said.

Ghoumrassa downplayed the effect of the interview on the state's efforts to root out al-Qaeda, saying that there will be an unchanged alertness on the part of the Algerian security forces.

The Algerian Government has made no official statement regarding the interview or the threats contained in it. When asked at a July 1st press conference to confirm Droukdel's assertion that 250 al-Qaeda elements are currently operating in the mountains, Minister of Communications Abdarachid Boukerzaza told reporters, "I don't have any comment on the issue."

Mouloud Morchedi, another security expert, played down Droukdal's threats against foreign interests. If Droukdel had been able to carry out attacks against US and French interests in Algeria, he would not have hesitated to so, Morchedi told Magharebia. This is especially true given that one of Droukdel's aims is to pressure foreign companies and foreigners into leaving Algeria, he noted.

The expert added that al-Qaeda has proven unable to hit US interests operating in oilfields in southern Algeria. This is due both to sophisticated security measures and to the organisation's reduced capacity in the South following regional emir Mokhtar Belmoukhtar's renouncement of arms due to disagreements over al-Qaeda's tactics.

[Al-khiyal]

Procès des auteurs de la tentative d’assassinat de Bouteflika à Batna :
Le dossier transféré au tribunal criminel

Jeudi 3 juillet 2008 -- Après plusieurs reports et deux semaines de délibérations, la chambre d’accusation près la cour de Batna, après avoir examiné pour la énième fois l’affaire du réseau impliqué dans la tentative d’assassinat du président de la République dans un attentat commis, le 6 septembre 2007 à Batna, a décidé de transférer le dossier au tribunal criminel. Cependant, la date du procès n’a pas encore été fixée. Ainsi, le tribunal aura à juger 11 individus membres du réseau, dont Ali Mehira alias Abou Rouaha, commanditaire de l’attentat avorté, ainsi que 51 autres terroristes en fuite, membres de katibet El-Maout, dirigée, jusqu’à un passé récent, par le même Abou Rouaha. Ce dernier a, rappelons-le, été destitué de la tête de cette katibet par le responsable national de l’organisation d’Al-Qaïda au pays du Maghreb islamique, Abou Mossâab Abdelouadoud, de son vrai nom Abdelmalek Droukdel, suite à l’échec essuyé par Mehira lors de l’exécution de l’attentat ciblant le président de la République à Batna.

Par ailleurs, les services de sécurité, en opération de ratissage depuis la semaine dernière dans la région de Batna, ont réussi, dans la nuit de lundi à mardi, à neutraliser un terroriste pris en étau entre les deux communes de T’kout et Kimel. Selon des sources, l’opération d’identification est en cours de même que l’opération de ratissage.

[Al-khiyal]

[Al-khiyal]

Le Times, Droudkel, la déontologie et la réconciliation

Jeudi 3 juillet 2008 -- Pourquoi dans un pays où la presse recueille les déclarations de terroristes élargis, où l’on organise des conférences de presse à des “repentis”, l’interview de Droudkel au New York Times fait-il scandale ? Dans un espace médiatique habitué aux reportages sur “l’itinéraire d’un repenti”, à l’analyse du “pourquoi Hattab a été déchu de son poste ?”, la promotion du chef actuel du GSPC au rang de personnalité questionnable devrait donc nous ébranler ! Parce que c’est précisément l’innommable Droudkel qui est inteviewé ? Mais en quoi la voix de Droudkel est plus damnée que celle de Madani Mezrag, chef du groupe terroriste de l’AIS qui, en 2004, tenait conférences de presse de campagne électorale avec, entre autres compagnons de tribune, un futur Chef du gouvernement de la République ? La société n’exprimait alors pas beaucoup d’émotion devant la promotion — officielle — d’un tueur au rang d’aiguilleur politique des électeurs. Et bien des confrères se bousculaient à ses causeries, certains par conviction, d’autres par “professionnalisme”. Pourquoi ce qui nous est permis ne l’est pas au Times ? Parce qu’il nous a brûlé la politesse pour interviewer “notre” chef terroriste ? Pourtant, il ne l’a même pas appelé “monsieur” Droudkel ! S’il y a une presse qui a inventé la “peopolisation” des terroristes, c’est bien la presse algérienne. Son patriotisme à la carte est fait de vigilance contre les perfidies des autres et de complaisance envers ses propres trahisons.

Quelques formules rédactionnelles nationales, pour mémoire :

- “Arrestation d’un… ‘émir’ : pourquoi un tueur décérébré promu au rang de “prince” par sa bande de crapules a-t-il droit à l’homologation médiatique de son titre ?

- ”Le financier d’Al-Qaïda abattu” : a-t-on vérifié les références professionnelles d’un assassin qui, à l’occasion — tout comme l’ensemble de ses compagnons du crime — détrousse le citoyen sans défense aux fins de son entreprise meurtrière ? Et l’“émir” chargé de “l’orientation doctrinale” (parce qu’il sait rédiger une fetwa pour le prochain forfait), de “la communication” (parce que c’est lui qui transmet la cassette de l’attentat à Al-Jazeera…)

- “Remaniement dans l’organigramme du GSPC” : quels attributs managériaux prêtons-nous à un ensemble de meutes meurtrières et destructrices, certes, mais qui le font quand elles le peuvent là où elles le peuvent !

Passons sur les interviews exclusives des “repentis” qui n’en sont pas moins assassins que Droudkel, sur ce reportage de la télévision d’État qui filme un gentil repenti réduit à colporter de la marchandise dans un marché de gros et sur “la couverture”, parfois très professionnelle, du procès intenté par le chef terroriste Benaïcha contre El Khabar pour… diffamation. À en oublier que les repentis, même rangés comme portefaix, qu’ils furent de l’AIS, du GIA ou du GSPC, restent des terroristes. Mais la réconciliation, c’est cela : oublier qu’un terroriste est un terroriste. Quand on n’a pas été assez décidé pour crier au moment où il le fallait, même “seul dans le désert”, comme disait Brecht, il n’est pas très sain de faire la “vierge effarouchée” quand d’autres font “mieux” que nous !

[Al-khiyal]

Bouteflika calls on gunmen to abandon violence

ALGIERS, July 5, 2008 (KUNA) -- Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika Saturday called on the members of Al-Qaeda network in Arab Magreb to abandon acts of violence and terrorism.

Bouteflika told the army leadership during the national celebration of the 46th Independence Day that gunmen should revert from acts of violence and join the national reconciliation treaty instead, affirming that the government would not shove them away if they favored peace.

However, Bouteflika stressed that the army and police forces are going to continue their crackdown on terrorism which has no religion or group to be tagged with. The President also called on the international community to back up the national reconciliation plan, rather than to criticize the step.

Meanwhile, Bouteflika reviewed social, economic, and political reforms in the country since he assumed the presidency in 1999, but did not mention any amendments to the constitution, which allows the President to work as Minister of Defense and Supreme Commander of the Algerian armed forces.

Bouteflika will head to Japan on Sunday to attend the G-8 summit which would shed light on the African development file.