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Salafists quit Algeria for Morocco
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SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Friday, May 18, 2005
Algeria's leading insurgency group has transferred much of its activities to neighboring Morocco, Algerian security sources said.
Salafist Brigade for Combat and Call
has bolstered its presence in Morocco over the last year. The sources said
Salafist operatives as well as support cells were believed to have emerged
in several Moroccan cities amid the Algerian military campaign against the
group.
For their part, Moroccan authorities have confirmed that insurgency
cells have emerged in several cities in the North African kingdom, Middle East Newsline reported.
The Salafists were said to have joined with Islamic insurgency groups
and their supporters in Morocco and have been involved in criminal
activities to support the Al Qaida-aligned network. The sources said the
Salafists were said to have been involved in manufacturing counterfeit
currency in an effort to support the insurgency in Algeria.
The sources said the Salafist presence in Morocco has increased tension
between Algiers and Rabat. The two countries have been engaged in a war of
words over the last few weeks in connection to the future of Western Sahara,
controlled by Morocco.
Moroccan
officials said the cells have been engaged in support of Islamic groups
linked to Al Qaida and have been counterfeiting money.
"We believe the effort is being directed by elements abroad," a Moroccan
source said.
The officials reported arrests of several suspected operatives. The
operations were said to have taken place in Casablanca, Barshid, Kharibka
and Bani Malal.
Copyright © 2005 East West
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