Algerian government reports Islamic offensive
Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Tuesday, May 15, 2001
CAIRO — Algeria has acknowledged an offensive by Islamic insurgents.
Algeria's security services have released details of the latest attacks
by Islamic insurgents against both civilians and security forces. This is a
departure for the government and military, which in the past rarely referred
to attacks by Islamic insurgents.
An announcement by the Algerian security agency said 11 people were
killed in an attack by Islamic gunmen southeast of the capital Algiers.
Seven of those killed near the town of Batna were members of the security
forces.
The security service said four civilians were massacred by the
insurgents. Algerian security officers arrived at the scene and were
ambushed by Islamic gunmen about 430 kilometers from Algiers.
Security sources said the insurgents had set up a roadblock between
Batna and Merouana. Vehicles that stopped were attacked and their passengers
killed.
Algerian forces have been struck by deadly Islamic attacks over the past
month. Last week, 10 security offcers were killed in an ambush in the Berber
region in northeastern Algeria.
Authorities also acknowledged that many Islamic fugitives have
disappeared during military operations against the insurgents. Algerian
Interior Minister Yazid Zarhoni told parliament that 884 of the 4,880
Algerians who have disappeared had been deemed as terrorist suspects.
Zarhoni said the bodies of 289 Algerians were found in 47 mass graves.
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Tuesday, May 15, 2001
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