CAIRO — Morocco has reported another offensive against Al Qaida.
Officials said security forces have arrested Al Qaida operatives
suspected of recruiting Muslims for the Sunni insurgency war in Iraq. They
said the Al Qaida network contained scores, if not hundreds, of people, and
operated in several major cities in the North African kingdom.
[On Jan. 5, Salafist Brigade commander Abdul Malik Dourkdel pledged to
continue the Islamic revolt against Algeria, Middle East Newsline reported. Dourkdel appealed to Al Qaida
leader Osama Bin Laden for instructions "for the next phase."]
"The first elements of the inquiry reveal the existence of ideological
links with and financial and logistical support for international terrorist
groups," the government said in a statement on Jan. 4.
Officials said 62 suspected Al Qaida operatives have been arrested so
far. They said the network appeared to have been led or heavily influenced
by the Salafist Group for Combat and Call, based in Algeria. In September
2006, Al Qaida announced a merger with the Salafists.
The government statement said the detainees consisted of Moroccan
nationals. The statement said other foreign Al Qaida-linked groups were also
involved in the Moroccan network.
Officials said the Salafist Brigade has expanded operations in Morocco
since the merger with Al Qaida. They said the Salafists have been recruiting
and training Moroccans in an attempt to undermine the pro-U.S. kingdom.
In August 2006, Moroccan security forces dismantled an Al Qaida cell
that sought to attack tourist sites and government representatives.
In Tunisia, the U.S. embassy has alerted Americans to increase their
vigilance in wake of clashes between Tunisian security forces and an
unidentified armed group. Clashes between the two sides were reported on
Dec. 23 and Jan. 3.
