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Army's Clashes With Algerian Militants Spiraling
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A library photo for Algerian army soldiers
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By
Omima Ahmad, IOL Correspondent
ALGIERS,
July 1 (IslamOnline.net) - The past few days have seen escalating
confrontations between the Algerian army and militant groups, chiefly
the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), which claimed the
lives of at least 100 people from both sides.
Algerian
security forces killed on Saturday, June 26, Ali Bournani, head of a
GSPC squadron near Khemis El-Khechna, southeast of the capital
Algiers.
Shortly
afterwards two members of the squadron were killed in the nearby town
of Ouled Salem.
The
army's operation came few days after the GSPC claimed an attack on
Hamma power station outside Algiers, on the evening of June 21 which
left at least 11 people wounded.
"The
El-Borkane (volcano) phalange (of the GSPC) placed a lorry packed with
explosives against the perimeter wall of the power station, which is
considered to be the country's most important and strategic
electricity production facility," the GSPC said in a statement
posted on its website.
It
added that its fighters "tried to avoid loss of human life by
reducing the explosive charge, which should have been bigger and
destroyed the whole plant."
The
GSPC described the attack as "one of a series of acts of
harassment which, even if they are not 100-percent successful, will
give the lie to fabrications (by the authorities) about things like
control of the security situation, assurances for foreign investors
and residues of terrorism."
Interior
Minister Yazid Zerhouni had initially said the blast was
"apparently accidental," but reports suggested it was a
reprisal for the killing of GSPC leader Nabil Sahrawi by the army on
June 20.
New
Strategy
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A file photo of an Algerian militant
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Observers
said the army's operation against Sahrawi mark a new strategy that
seeks to crack down on the strongholds of militant groups as compared
to just drying up logistic support given to them.
Sahrawi,
also known as Abu Ibrahim Mustapha, and three of his lieutenants were
gunned down during a weeping anti-terrorism operation in the Bejaia
area, east of the capital Algiers.
Weapons,
ammunition and documents were recovered during the operation.
Algerian
political analysts said the army's operation was remarkable and
significant having been able to hit the GSPC leadership.
They
noted that the army has mastered an anti-terrorism combat skills and
tactics, thanks to security cooperation with the United States.
The
experts also cited the lifting of arms import embargo once slapped
against the country by the Unites States, France and Britain.
With
the beginning of summer, Algerian authorities beefed up security
procedures and placed security barricades along the entrances of the
capital and the main crossroads.
Militant
groups have in the past years stepped up attacks in summer,
particularly along the beaches.
The
sudden spiral in violence this month after a two-month lull leaves
political analysts in Algeria wondering whether the security situation
would remain fluctuating.
The
GSPC, Algeria's biggest and best-organized militant group, has been at
war with the government since 1992.
Some
150,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed ever since.
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