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Algeria conducts major raid on Al Qaida group

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, January 9, 2006

CAIRO — Algeria has launched another crackdown on a leading Al Qaida-aligned group.

Over the weekend, Algerian security forces raided suspected insurgency strongholds in the Shatiya region west of Algiers. At least 22 people were captured.

Over the last few months, scores of Salafists, including at least three senior operatives, were said to have surrendered to authorities under an amnesty offer initiated by President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika, Middle East Newsline reported.

Security sources said the detainees were suspected of being operatives for the Salafist Brigade for Combat and Call. The sources said the suspects were accused of helping insurgency networks in Shatiya, a region around 120 kilometers west of Algiers.

"The suspects were captured as a result of cooperation from former terrorists who have agreed to turn in their colleagues," a security source said.

The amnesty deal required that insurgency operatives turn in their colleages and renounce violence.

This was the second major capture of Salafist operatives in Shatiya. Security sources said that on Jan. 1, another 20 suspected Salafist operatives were arrested on charges of armed robbery and threats against civilians.


Copyright © 2005 East West Services, Inc.

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