Algeria’s military said on Saturday that several members of the Islamic rebel group that kidnapped 32 European tourists last year had been killed in the desert as they transported arms bought with Western ransom money. The armed forces said in a rare statement that members of the hardline Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) had been "neutralised" when crossing into Algeria from neighbouring Mali in an anti-rebel operation on Friday. "The armed forces have destroyed a terrorist group linked to al Qaeda in the south... they were carrying important weapons, including 190 Kalashnikovs," the statement said. "The group purchased the weapons thanks to money they received from a Western government in exchange for releasing the (European) hostages," it added.
Security experts said the latest operation was a significant coup for Algeria’s armed forces, particularly because of the amount of arms seized. It was not clear how many rebels were killed. Algeria’s armed forces have in recent months stepped up its campaign to eliminate what remains of the GSPC -- as it is known in French -- and the Armed Islamic Group (GIA), known for slitting the throats of its victims, security experts said. |