Algeria hit by surge in guerrilla violence

[Al-khiyal]

Algeria political violence death toll up in February

ALGIERS, March 2, 2009 (Reuters) - The death toll from political violence in Algeria more than doubled to 33 in February after rebels stepped up attacks before April's presidential vote, according to a Reuters count based on newspaper reports.

Twenty members of the security forces, five civilians and eight rebels were reported killed in the north African OPEC-member country last month, which also saw the surrender of two militants.

Following are some of the main developments:

February 2 - Two rebels surrender in the western province of Chlef.

February 3 - A bomb kills a soldier and wound nine more during a search operation in a mountainous area of Tizi Ouzou province, some 110 km (70 miles) east of Algiers.

February 10 - Security forces kill two rebels and seize two Kalashnikov rifles in Tizi Ouzou province.

February 12 - Twin bombings kill seven people, including two members of the security forces and a fireman, in the eastern province of Tebessa near the border with Tunisia.

February 15 - Islamic militants kill eight soldiers in two separate attacks in Tebessa and Boumerdes provinces.

February 17 - The army kills five rebels during an operation near Tebessa town.

February 22 - Rebels kill nine security guards at a gas installation in the coastal province of Jijel, about 360 km (225 miles) east of Algiers.

Interior Minister Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni said the attack may have been linked to the presidential election scheduled for April 9. "I do not rule out that this attack was perpetrated in order to create a disagreeable atmosphere as the presidential election approached," he said.

February 23 - Security forces kill a rebel and seize a Kalashnikov rifle near Dellys town in Boumerdes province.

[Al-khiyal]

Huit islamistes armés abattus et quatre militaires blessés à Blida

Seize terroristes ont été abattus à Blida, selon Zerhouni

Lundi 2 Mars 2009 -- Seize terroristes ont été abattus samedi soir par l'armée à Larbaâ près de Blida, selon un nouveau bilan fourni lundi par le ministre de l'Intérieur Yazid Zerhouni, en marge de l'ouverture de la session de printemps de l'Assemblée populaire nationale (APN). L'accrochage a fait également un mort et cinq blessés parmi les militaires. Un précédent bilan non officiel faisait état de sept islamistes armés tués dans cette opération des les forces de sécurité.

Au total, dix-sept terroristes ont été abattus par l'armée depuis jeudi dans la région de Larbaâ. Plusieurs armes de guerre et des munitions ont été récupérées à l'issue de cette opération de ratissage qui a duré trois jours, selon des sources sécuritaires.

L'opération a été rendue possible grâce à des informations obtenues la semaine dernière auprès d'un groupe de soutien composé de 12 personnes démantelé à Blida et dont la majorité des membres est issue de Larbaa, ajoutent les mêmes sources.

[Al-khiyal]

Deux morts et un blessé dans une double explosion lundi à Beni Ksila (Béjaïa)

Lundi 2 Mars 2009 -- Un militaire et une femme civile ont été tués, lundi 2 mars, dans l'explosion de deux bombes à proximité d'une caserne de la garde communale, située à 600 mètres du siège de l'APC de Beni Ksila, dans la wilaya de Béjaïa, affirme le quotidien arabophone El Khabar dans son édition de mardi 3 mars. Un garde communal a été grièvement blessé dans ce double attentat, selon la même source. Il a été évacué vers l'hôpital de Constantine.

La femme a été tuée dans l'effondrement de sa maison située non loin de la caserne de la garde communale alors que le militaire a été mortellement blessé alors qu'il se trouvait à proximité du lieu au moment de la double explosion, rapporte encore El Khabar. Une troisième bombe a explosé sur la route de wilaya W14 reliant Beni Ksila à Adekar, sans faire de victimes, selon la même source.

[Al-khiyal]

Jijel :
Un homme tué accidentellement dans une embuscade

Mardi 3 Mars 2009 -- Un homme a été tué accidentellement et une de ses proches blessée par les forces combinées dans la nuit de dimanche à lundi, au lieu dit Bouaasfour, à trois km au sud de la commune de Chekfa, dans la wilaya de Jijel. Selon des informations recueillies auprès des proches et des riverains, les deux victimes sont B. Ahcen, âgé de 36 ans, coiffeur à Alger, et la femme de son oncle qui a été évacuée en urgence vers l'hôpital Saïd Medjedoub, de Taher. Selon les premières informations, aux environs de 22h30, la victime, ayant entendu du bruit et croyant qu'il s'agissait de voleurs de bétail, était sortie de chez elle pour aller vérifier l'étable. Une fois à l'extérieur, le malheureux B. Ahcen a reçu une rafale d'arme automatique tirée par des éléments des forces combinées qui étaient en embuscade dans cette zone. La victime, dont la dépouille a été déposée à la morgue de l'hôpital de Taher pour autopsie, est morte sur le coup, alors que la femme de son oncle, qui avait accouru, a été blessée. Les services de sécurité ont ouvert une enquête pour déterminer les causes et les circonstances de ce tragique incident.

[Al-khiyal]

Seize terroristes ont été abattus à Blida, selon Zerhouni

16 Islamist militants killed in Algeria: reports

ALGIERS, March 3, 2009 (AFP) — The Algerian army has killed 16 armed Islamist fighters during an operation in the mountains of Blida province, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) south of Algiers, local media reported Tuesday.

The 16 extremists belonged to the same group and were killed near Soulahane on Saturday during a search operation that has been under way for several days, private newspapers and the state-owned Chaine III radio reported.

Earlier reports said seven men perished.

A first militant was killed on Thursday before the army took the rest of the group by surprise on Saturday.

There has been no official confirmation of the militants' deaths.

Interior Minister Yazid Zerhouni said on Sunday that some 120 Islamist militants have been killed by security forces since September, including "major terrorist leaders".

Zerhouni added that during the same period 22 militants gave themselves up to the security services, while "322 terrorists, many of whom were not armed but directly implicated in attacks, were arrested and about 150 weapons seized."

[Al-khiyal]

Deux morts et un blessé dans une double explosion lundi à Beni Ksila (Béjaïa)

Double explosion kills Algerian woman, soldier

March 3, 2009 -- A soldier and a female civilian were killed on Monday (March 2nd) when two bombs exploded near the barracks of the communal guard in Beni Ksila, Béjaïa province, El Khabar reported. A municipal guard seriously injured in the double attack was transferred to a hospital in Constantine. A third bomb reportedly exploded on the road from Beni Ksila to Adekar without causing any casualties.

[Al-khiyal]

Encouraging anti-terrorism news marks start of election season in Algeria

March 3, 2009 -- In the weeks leading up to the April 9th presidential elections, the Algerian government is reviewing its counter-terrorism policies and taking precautionary measures to ensure the security of voters and polling stations during the high-profile event.

Since the suicide bombing of a police academy in Issers in August 2008 that left more than 40 dead, Algerian security forces have reportedly killed 136 members of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. According to Interior Minister Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni, this figure includes a number of senior commanders from within the terrorist network.

Speaking to the press on Monday (March 2nd), Zerhouni said that 16 terrorists were killed Saturday night during military operations in Laarbaa, west of Algiers.

In a related statement, the minister said some 322 others have been arrested and 150 weapons confiscated since the Issers bombing. An additional 22 terrorists turned themselves in, to benefit from the national reconciliation measures adopted by President Bouteflika in March 2006.

Zerhouni's announcements offer more detail than usual, as the administration often keeps figures pertaining to security under wraps.

The minister also said that many of the terrorists were captured without weapons, suggesting the organisation's equipment and funding problems run deeper than previously suspected.

Furthermore, many of the government's successful counter-terror operations depended on intelligence provided by dissenters.

Zerhouni praised the security forces for adopting "a new technique... through the penetration and infiltration of terrorist groups".

The al-Qaeda movement in Algeria has lost several key commanders in recent months. One successful operation took place on February 5th, when Special Forces killed Omar Ben Titraoui, alias Yahia Abou Khaitima, Emir of the Fatah brigade in Boumerdes. The Fatah brigade, which relies on blackmail and extortion for financing, is one of the pillars of al-Qaeda in Algeria.

Also grabbing attention in recent weeks is the widespread response to GSPC commander Hassan Hattab's call for terrorists to lay down their arms. The most notable taker so far is Ali Ben Touati, Emir of the Al-Ansar brigade, who surrendered in late January.

Last month, El Khabar reported that 17 other followers of Hassan Hattab had turned themselves in under the Peace and Reconciliation Charter.

Security expert Hamd Yacine said Zerhouni's progress report is likely intended to show the Bouteflika administration's ongoing progress in the fight against terrorism, and to make citizens feel safe about the conditions on Election Day.

Dja'far, an employee in a national bank, expressed relief at Zerhouni's remarks. He told Magharebia the news of government success gives him hope for Algeria's security during the elections.

A-Qaeda claimed responsibility for nine attacks in February, including the February 22nd killing of nine security guards near Ziama Mansouriah in Jijel province and a fatal ambush on three off-duty soldiers in Bordj Menail, Boumerdes.