Figthing in Tizi Ouzou May Have Resulted in Fires

P0sted 0n September 17th in Algeria-Watch, a Human Rights Blog, so keep in mind they have an agenda...

-Shimron

"......Local residents say the fires started after the army started shelling the forests where they thought Islamists were hiding.

"Amejoudh forest has been attacked several times in recent months. It was bombarded with shells and rockets fired from helicopters, which all started fires," said villager Belkacem Smail.

The current operation to burn forests and fields could turn local people against the armyAbdlekrim, teacherHelped by the wind and temperatures which exceeded 48C, the fires spread to other forests before reaching small villages high up in the mountains.

But the Movement for Kabylie's Autonomy (Mak) goes even further.
"The army deliberately set fire to olive groves under the false pretence of the fight against terrorists," it said.

The army has said it was searching for a group of 60 "terrorists" hiding in Amejoudh forest near the region's main town Tizi Ouzou but has never said how many fighters it killed or captured during the operations......

......During the height of the fighting in Algeria, many forests were burnt and trees cut down near main roads to prevent Islamists using them as cover to stage ambushes.

The Rest @ Algeria Watch