(AKI) - The leader of North Africa's Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Abdelmalek Droukdel, is to be tried in absentia with 56 others accused of terrorism and other crimes. According to Algerian daily, El-Khabar, the suspects linked to the militant Islamic group - including 40 who are now in prison - is scheduled to take place from the end of December to February.The defendants face several charges, including belonging to terror group, committing premeditated murder and being murder accomplices.
Meanwhile, the Algerian media is reporting serious divisions have emerged inside the Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb recently.
According to the Arab daily, al-Hayat, Droukedel and the Al-Qaeda leader in the Sahara region, Yahya Jawadi, known as Abu Amar.
Abu Amar has reportedly expressed his desire for a truce with Algerian armed forces.
The decision is believed to have been taken after former leader of Al-Qaeda in the Sahara, Mukhtar Belmukhtar, distanced himself from Droukedel's group and recently abandoned armed conflict and sought refuge with several tribes in northern Mali.
According to Algerian security services, Droukedel brought the issue to the attention of the Sharia Council called to assess Jawadi's behaviour which could move distance him from the group if he is found to be untrustworthy.
Jawadi appears to have proposed a truce in exchange for an end to attacks on his men in Algeria and Mauritania. Several government mediators are reported to have met during November in the village of Minaka in northern Mali to discuss a national reconciliation proposal.