Four Sahara countries have decided to step up cooperation in the fight against an armed Islamic group whose activities have spilled over from Algeria to other countries in the region, a source close to the army of Mali said Saturday. The action by Mali, Niger, Chad and Algeria was aimed at the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, which has been active since 1998 and was involved in the kidnapping of 32 Western tourists last year -- 14 of whom it handed over for an undisclosed ransom in Mali. The leader of the group, an Algerian named Amari Saifi, otherwise known as Abderrazak the Para, was in Mali until recently, the military source said, but had left the country with his men after marrying an under-age girl.
| They're not worth marrying if they're not under-age, are they? |
The source said this force had clashed with the Niger and Chad armies recently. The four-nation agreement was aimed at denying sanctuary to the Salafist group or other bands roaming across the porous desert frontiers. The Mali army will now track down gunmen wanted in any of the other countries.
| Got a cross-border agreement up front. Good idea. |
The agreement also provides for the increasing exchanges of intelligence among the countries. "The danger that haunts the countries in the region is to see the armed Islamists and other terrorists recruiting men among the poor local populations," the source said. He added that the Mali army was receiving aid from the United States, including very sophisticated communications equipment and high-speed vehicles. According to the source, about 30 American instructors have trained some 300 Malian soldiers in counter terrorism techniques since January. |