Algerian government calls for national front against terrorism

2008-08-27

The Algerian government has apparently acknowledged links between the GSPC and al-Qaeda and called upon the public to form a national front against terrorism.

By Said Jameh for Magharebia in Algiers – 27/08/08

[Said Jameh] Algerian security forces have established a number of new roadblocks with high-tech equipment as part of measures to prevent new attacks during Ramadan.

The Algerian government is enacting exceptional security measures during the holy month of Ramadan, calling on citizens to form a national front against terrorists "serving a foreign agenda".

In a press conference on Monday (August 25th), Communications Minister and government spokesman Abderrachid Boukerzaza said that new measures by the security forces are intended to foil attacks against civilians and security forces. The minister confirmed that Algeria will proceed relentlessly in its fight against terrorism, but that the reconciliation option will remain open, as the ultimate goal is to eradicate terrorism.

The minister did not give the details of the news security measures because of their secret nature.

"The victory over terrorism…will be hastened by mobilising everyone in a strong national front against the terrorist scourge which is alien to our values and spares nobody," he said, adding that that the vigilance of "every citizen, wherever they are" constitutes a valuable weapon to help the country's security services defeat the terrorist menace.

Commenting on recent suicide attacks in Zemmouri, Issers and Bouira which killed 69 people and injured 70 more, Boukerzaza said the perpetrators are "criminals in the employ of foreign terrorist organisations", in reference to al-Qaeda.

In the past, Algerian officials have attached little significance to the announced merger between the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) and the al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden.

Notably, Interior Minister Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni continues to use the GSPC name when referring to the group.

An editorial appearing Tuesday in Liberté likened Boukerzaza's shift in discourse to "waking from a slumber". By acknowledging that the terrorists are working for foreign entities, the author concludes, the Algerian government appears to have finally recognised the level of danger posed by the groups.

Boukerzaza's statements came at a time coinciding both with Ramadan and the tenth anniversary of the GSPC's establishment by Hassan Hattab, alias Abou Hamza, who surrendered to security authorities on September 22nd, 2007.

Local reports say some 2,500 new security agents have been deployed in sensitive locations in Tizi Ouzou province to track down terrorists there during this sensitive period.

In addition, army forces in Bejaia have implemented exceptional measures in front of an army training school to prevent attacks against candidates desiring to join the security forces, such as the recent attack against the gendarmerie academy in Issers.

In Tuesday's issue of Al-Youm, it was noted that army forces have also been deployed extensively in Skikda province, tracking terrorist elements after a string of operations targeting military commanders there.

In Ain Defla, security forces recently killed 10 al-Qaeda forces in a large-scale operation.

Throughout the wilaya, police have fortified roadblocks at the entrances to major cities and have provided personnel with state-of-the-art explosives detection equipment.

Meanwhile, security services have also launched a new appeal to the families of active terrorists, asking them to persuade their relatives to surrender. Echourouk reported on Wednesday that many of the families, encouraged by the ongoing offer of amnesty to terrorists who surrender, denounced the recent terrorist attacks and expressed their readiness to co-operate.