Abou El-Abbes, Abdelhalim Grig-Ahsine of AQIM Captured

Algiers - A senior member of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (Aqim), Athmane Touati, alias Abou El-Abbes, has surrendered to the security services in Algeria, a security source said on Monday.

The security services "succeeded on May 25 2010 in obtaining the surrender" of Touati, an Aqim officer in the central zone east of Algiers, and a member of the leadership of the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, the source said, according to the APS news agency.

This radical Islamist, born in Bordj Menail near Boumerdes, 50km from Algiers, turned himself in after being persuaded by his wife to abandon the armed groups he had joined in 1993, APS said, without giving further details or saying where he had surrendered.

The security services the same day "obtained repentance" from another radical Islamist, Abdelhalim Grig-Ahsine, who had also been active in the central region after joining the insurgents in 1993.

Aqim, which grew out of the GSPC whose predecessors waged a low-level civil war in the 1990s and first years of this century - is led by Abdelmalek Droukdel. He loses with Abou El-Abbes "a third essential aide" in two months, according to the security source.

Ahmad Mansouri Ahmed, known as Abdeldjebbar, who led the El-Farouk cell, surrendered last April 16, and two days later Lounis Mokadem, alias Abou Naamane, the former head of Aqim's medical commission, surrendered, after being a guerilla since 1996.

The Algerian security services argue that the defection of these "veterans" of armed groups, who were all "considered members of the hard line of GSPC/Aqim," reflects "the state of collapse and flight" in armed Islamic groups in Algeria.

Thousands of former Islamist guerrillas laid down their arms when President Abdelaziz Bouteflika offered an amnesty, then he proposed a "charter for peace and national reconciliation" in 2005, during his second term. This has ended the civil war in Algeria, though sporadic conflict continues.

The Rest @ SAPA
- SAPA

Algiera Prepares for Ramadan by Claiming AQIM success

Algerians celebrate Ramadan2009-08-21 14:19

Boumerdes - Despite ongoing Islamist militant attacks, Algerians relaxing at the seaside are more concerned by the rising cost of meat and vegetables at the start of Ramadan than security.
"Security is far from being our main concern," said Abdelalik, who sat with his wife at a seafront cafe in Boumerdes, an hour's drive from Algiers, with the Islamic fasting month to begin on Saturday.

"I'm mostly concerned about making it to the end of the month, with Ramadan coming and the start of the school year" set for September 13, he said.

Algerians spend a fortune on food for the traditional breaking of the fast, held every day at sunset during the holy month. And prices of fruit, vegetables and meat all "go up every year during Ramadan" , Abdelalik said.

But not everyone can afford the traditional sumptuous feasts, with 1.2 million disadvantaged families getting help from the state this year.
Militant attacks

"Security? That's a funny question. We don't even give it a thought," said a youth, on his way to the town's vast, parasol-spotted beach with three friends.

They walk away from further questions, preferring to make the most of the Mediterranean waters ahead of Ramadan, when daytime bathing is prohibited.

Despite the apparent nonchalance, the area around Boumerdes, along with Tizi Ouzou to the east, are classified "red" because of the number of militant attacks by armed groups including al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (Aqim).

• Police are omnipresent on main roads, setting up checkpoints along avenues in Boumerdes which is nevertheless enjoying a real estate boom.
• The traffic jams are hellish and resorts along the coast have had their "No Vacancy" signs out since the start of the summer holiday season.

Bombing at a beach

Right up to the last day before Ramadan, families relax in the shade of parasols on one of the beaches at Tigzirt, near Tizi Ouzou, where a policeman was killed by a bombing at a beach observation post days earlier.

The "Delphine" security plan, implemented every year to protect places of summer recreation will remain in place throughout Ramadan.

But "there will not be any special measures" because police "are mobilised throughout the year, whether during Ramadan or any other time," national security director Ali Tunsi said in the run-up the Muslim holy month.

Algerian newspapers said security forces were relentlessly battling militant groups claiming allegiance to Aqim.

Helicopter gunships

Unconfirmed reports said at least 50 militants have been killed, captured or given themselves up since the beginning of August.

A broad ground operation follows every militant attack, backed by helicopter gunships to target the scrubland where the Islamists might be hiding.

Troops regularly sweep through vast areas in the coastal region after attacks on military convoys, such as an ambush on July 29 that killed at least 11 soldiers near the popular resort of Tipaza.

The REst @ News 24/ SAPA

AQIM has been Quiet Since the Plague

This is a somewhat painful-to-read translation of an article from a an Algerian French language Newspaper, discussing their investigation into the dismanteling of some AQIM logistics teams in the Tizi Ouzou Region of Nothern Algeria, an AQIM stronghold.

This was first published on February 1st, 2009. In context, this was about when a number of AQIM Mujahadeen surrendered because of a black plaque outbreak in This same region.

- Shimron Issachar


Kept in total secret, the key to this "war chest" are held by one terrorist leader, in this case Ben Ali Touati alias Abu Tammimi who visited recently.

The security forces come to get their hands on a powder keg! A huge stock of explosives of the former GSPC containing five kilograms of TNT and as nitric acid, ready for use were discovered at Timezrit, a town located 35km south-west of the wilaya of Boumerdes.

More exactly, the explosives were located in lieudit Tihachadine, located between Timezrit and Ait Yahia Moussa, an area located near the vast mass of Sidi Ali Bounab known to be a real GSPC stronghold for years.

The cache was established in the late 90s by the henchmen of Hassan Hattab, then national emir of the former GSPC.

• The former terrorists who were returning from the war in Afghanistan and then those of Iraq, have been instrumental in the establishment of the stock used in the manufacture of bombs and other explosives for attacks including the suicide bombers.
• Kept in total secret, the key to this "war chest" are held by one terrorist leader, in this case the emir of Ansar El Seriate called Ben Ali Touati alias Abu Tammimi. The location of the stock in question was revealed by the Emir who visited with weapons and baggage security services in Tizi Ouzou 17 days ago, according to a reliable source safe.
• The surrender of this veteran of Afghanistan came after the Hattab, on the one hand and the other, it would, of course, due to guéguerre [internal war?] within the Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb.
• Thus, he negotiated his surrender by providing matching information of the first order to the forces of the PNA, in the image of this stock of TNT and nitric acid.

The operation of such explosives enfouillissement occurring last weekend [ 30-31 Januray?] was led jointly by the heads of the military areas of Tizi Ouzou and Boumerdes.

• This huge quantity of TNT was buried in up to 6 metal drums and the acid in plastic cans and all protected by plastic sheeting, however, our source.
• Aged forty years, Ben Ali Touati alias Abu Tammimi, Dellys east from where he was the emir of seriata of this city before he was promoted to head of the Ansar el katibet by Droukdel.
• This formidable katibet over 70 activists working in the area stretching of Isser through Timezrit, Bordj Menaiel, Naciria, Baghlia, and Dellys Tigzirt. With this umpteenth battering, Al Qaeda in the Maghreb with the latest media attack began last August, going through a very critical stage in recent months.

The security services continued their action on the ground with more confidence now that the results of destruction of GSPC are tangible.

The terrorist organization is expressed less in recent months, even in regions where it was rampant with the attacks, a few years ago.

Should also be noted that the direction of the former GSPC in the center of the country, is virtually wiped out with the surrender of the most wanted terrorist and close to Droukdel.

• In addition, tens of Logistics cells are dismantled in Boumerdes and Tizi Ouzou over the last 10 days according to our source.
• At the level of massive Bounab Sidi Ali, the police have discovered and defused four bombs.
• Here, a terrorist group composed of at least fifteen elements, all close to the former head of the GSPC, expect the gun to the foot, when to go.
• These elements seem entrenched in a cave and waiting time H.
• Furthermore, according to credible sources, a terrorist refuge in a cave of Akfadou would have counted among his people, the dead, when they were hunted by the police.
• The security forces reportedly transported in a health institution that would have confirmed that they died of the plague.

Since the people of this region of Akfadou were advised not to approach the scene. One thing is certain is that the terrorists across their backs are really "in trouble".

In addition, a network of support for armed terrorist groups was dismantled in the town of Tadmait, 20 kilometers east of Tizi Ouzou, it was learned yesterday from reliable sources.

• The network in question consists of nine people including a woman.
• According to our sources, they have all been submitted to the prosecutor and five placed in custody.
• The other four are now under judicial control.

The Rest @ Lejune Algerien by way of Wikio