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| Africa: North |
| Algerian clashes with GSPC spiraling |
| 2004-07-01 |
| The past few days have seen escalating confrontations between the Algerian army and militant groups, chiefly the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), which claimed the lives of at least 100 people from both sides. No clue where they got this figure from. The GSPC dead have all been in the low dozens by my count, so I guess it’s massacre time again for the hard boyz. Algerian security forces killed on Saturday, June 26, Ali Bournani, head of a GSPC squadron near Khemis El-Khechna, southeast of the capital Algiers. Shortly afterwards two members of the squadron were killed in the nearby town of Ouled Salem. The army’s operation came few days after the GSPC claimed an attack on Hamma power station outside Algiers, on the evening of June 21 which left at least 11 people wounded. "The El-Borkane (volcano) phalange (of the GSPC) placed a lorry packed with explosives against the perimeter wall of the power station, which is considered to be the country’s most important and strategic electricity production facility," the GSPC said in a statement posted on its website. It added that its fighters "tried to avoid loss of human life by reducing the explosive charge, which should have been bigger and destroyed the whole plant." The GSPC described the attack as "one of a series of acts of harassment which, even if they are not 100-percent successful, will give the lie to fabrications (by the authorities) about things like control of the security situation, assurances for foreign investors and residues of terrorism." Interior Minister Yazid Zerhouni had initially said the blast was "apparently accidental," but reports suggested it was a reprisal for the killing of GSPC leader Nabil Sahrawi by the army on June 20. Observers said the army’s operation against Sahrawi mark a new strategy that seeks to crack down on the strongholds of militant groups as compared to just drying up logistic support given to them. Sahrawi, also known as Abu Ibrahim Mustapha, and three of his lieutenants were gunned down during a weeping anti-terrorism operation in the Bejaia area, east of the capital Algiers. Weapons, ammunition and documents were recovered during the operation. Algerian political analysts said the army’s operation was remarkable and significant having been able to hit the GSPC leadership. They noted that the army has mastered an anti-terrorism combat skills and tactics, thanks to security cooperation with the United States. The experts also cited the lifting of arms import embargo once slapped against the country by the Unites States, France and Britain. With the beginning of summer, Algerian authorities beefed up security procedures and placed security barricades along the entrances of the capital and the main crossroads. Militant groups have in the past years stepped up attacks in summer, particularly along the beaches. The sudden spiral in violence this month after a two-month lull leaves political analysts in Algeria wondering whether the security situation would remain fluctuating. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |