An Al Qaida-aligned group has offered an
exchange of prisoners with Algeria.
Islamic sources said the Salafist Brigade for Combat and Call has
quietly proposed the release of two Algerian diplomats abducted in Iraq for
the release of a leading Salafist commander. The diplomats were kidnapped by
the Al Qaida network in Iraq, led by Abu Mussib Al Zarqawi.
On July 21, Algerian charge d'affaires Ali Belaroussi and Ezzedin Ben
Kadi were abducted from their car near a restaurant in west Baghdad, Middle East Newsline reported. Al
Zarqawi has claimed responsibility for the abduction and threatened to
execute the diplomats.
On Tuesday, Al Zarqawi released a video that showed the two abducted
Algerians. On the video, posted on an Al Qaida website, the two blindfolded
hostages identified themselves.
The Al Qaida-aligned Salafist Brigades, regarded by the United States as
the biggest threat to northwest Africa, has sought the release of Amari
Saifi, known as Abdul Razik the paratrooper. Saifi, a leading commander of
the Salafists, was captured in 2004 and held in an unknown location
in Algeria.
Saifi was said to have been handed over to Algeria by Libya. He was
accused of masterminding the abduction of 32 European tourists in southern
Algeria in 2003.
