CAIRO — Algeria hopes its amnesty offer will lead to the surrender
of an estimated 1,000 Islamic insurgents.
An amnesty plan for insurgents was approved by 97 percent in a
referendum held on Sept. 20. Under the plan, amnesty would not be offered to
those accused of rape, murder or bombings.
On Saturday, the Salafist Brigade rejected the Algerian amnesty offer
and pledged to continue war against the regime, Middle East Newsline reported. It was the first time the
group publicly discussed the amnesty.
Algerian officials said between 800 and 1,000 insurgents remain active
in the North African state. They said most of the insurgents have worked for
the Salafist Brigade for Combat and Call,
regarded as the leading contractor of Al Qaida.
"This vote is a waste of time," an Internet statement attributed to
Salafist commander Abdul Malik Droukdel said. "Algeria is not in need of a
charter for peace and national reconciliation, rather a charter for Islam.
We have promised God to continue the holy war and combat."
Interior Minister Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni said nearly 80 percent of
the more than 18 million eligible voters cast ballots. But the turnout rate
was low in many areas of Algeria where a boycott was called. In Bejaia and
Tizi Ouzou, areas hard hit by the insurgency, voter turnout was 11.5
percent.
"The vote was done in total transparency," Zerhouni said.
Zerhouni said Algeria would draft legislation to support the charter. He
said that under the charter insurgents who surrender their weapons would not
be prosecuted. The charter would also provide reparations for families of
missing people.
President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika said 150,000 people were killed in the
Islamic insurgency, which began in 1992. Bouteflika said the insurgency
caused $35 billion in damage.
