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| Africa: North |
| Algerian Islamist Leader Questioned |
| 2005-07-31 |
| A powerful former leader of Algeriaâs banned Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) party was ordered to remain in custody yesterday in connection with his public praise of Iraqâs insurgency and the abduction of Algerians. Ali Belhadj was detained by police in the capital Algiers on Wednesday shortly after he told Al-Jazeera television in a telephone interview that he ârelatedâ to the mujahideen fighting US-led forces and their allies. Two Algerian diplomats were killed by Al-Qaeda in Iraq shortly after Belhadjâs comments. âThe prosecutor general has ordered a (five-day) detention for Ali,â brother Abdelhamid told reporters at a court. Belhadj will be questioned again in five days when the prosecutor could file charges against him. Security experts said Belhadjâs comments could be punishable under the anti-terrorism law and for breaking terms linked to his release from prison in 2003. It is the first significant crackdown by the authorities on former leaders of the hard-line Islamic movement since Belhadj was released from a military prison in 2003 after serving a 12-year-term along with FIS leader Abassi Madani. Both were jailed for threatening national security. They were banned from political activity and from making public statements. |
| Posted by:Fred |