Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Algeria’s Army has killed Al Qaida fighters, including the deputy
chief of the insurgency movement.

The Algerian Army attacked and killed four suspected operatives of Al
Qaida Organization in the Islamic Maghreb. The Army operation took place on
early July 19 in Sour Al Gozlane, 120 kilometers southeast of Algiers.

“Army troops also captured weapons,” an official Algerian statement said.

Security sources said one of the casualties was the deputy chief of AQIM, identified as Abu Walid Thami. They said Abu Thami, 36, joined AQIM in 2002 and soon became a chief aide to commander Abdul Malik Droukdel.

The official Algerian Press Service said the Army ambushed a vehicle with four suspected Islamic insurgents. A shootout ensued and the passengers
in the targeted vehicle were killed.

“Four terrorists were killed on the night of Friday to Saturday by the forces of the People’s National Army (ANP), during an operation near the
town of Sour El Ghozlane, 40 kilometers south of Bouira,” APS said.

Algerian security sources have reported a sharp decline in AQIM
operations over the last two years, particularly during the Muslim fast
month of Ramadan. They said AQIM has been finding it increasingly difficult
to recruit fighters.

Still, in January, AQIM was believed to have participated in the brief
capture of Algeria’s liquefied natural gas complex in Ein Amenas in which at
least 37 foreigners were killed. The sources said Algeria has warned
neighboring Libya and Tunisia of a similar plot by AQIM.

  Abdul Malik Droukdel, Abu Walid Thami, Al Qaida Organization in the Islamic Maghreb, Algerian troops kill Al Qaida deputy chief, Sour Al Gozlane