Notorious Algerian terrorist El Para renounces al-Qaeda

10/05/2009

The Algerian terrorist leader known as "El Para" rejected al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and voiced his support for national reconciliation efforts, local press reported widely on Saturday (May 9th). In a document titled "Repentance and Denunciation", Ammari Saifi stated that he rejected armed action, adding that "jihad was no longer legitimate" in Algeria. The former paratrooper and one-time top militant in the Sahara region said that by indiscriminately killing civilians, al-Qaeda had chosen a path far removed from religion.

He also denounced suicide attacks and kidnappings performed under the leadership of Abdelmalek Droudkel. "Droudkel called on his followers to disobey Allah," Echorouk quoted Saifi as saying.

El Para was sentenced to life in prison for the 2003 kidnapping of 32 German tourists in the Algerian desert. He is the second major terrorist to repent this year. In January, GSPC founder Hassan Hattab issued a statement calling on al-Qaeda fighters to lay down arms and benefit from Algeria's Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation.

In related news, former GSPC leaders Abu Omar Abdelbari, Abu Zakaria and Moussaab Abu Daoud called on terrorists to surrender. Those willing to repent could "trust" the Algerian authorities, APS quoted Abdelber as saying in the statement aired Friday (May 8th) on Algerian national radio.

Elsewhere, Algerian security forces dismantled a 30-member terrorist support cell in the provinces of Medea and Ain Defla, following information provided by repentant terrorist Mohammed Debar, Echorouk reported on Saturday.