Algerian army uses American weapons to chase the gunmen

Algerian press sources disclosed that the Algerian army will shortly receive American weapons and is preparing to carry out a new plan to chase the armed Islamist groups.

The sources said that the Algerian army chief of staff Lt. Gen. Muhammad al-Ammari approved the new security plan in order to uncover the main headquarters of the al-Salafeyah group for "call and fighting " led by Hassan Hattab, and the armed Islamist group led by Rasheed Abu Turab.

The plan includes strengthening the deployment of security forces in all isolated and remote villages and redeployment of the army units. The sources said that the government forces will use advanced American weapons expected to arrive in Algeria shortly in the framework of security cooperation between the two countries to fighting what they call terrorism.

The Algerian daily Le Matain added that the army arrested less than one month ago a member in al-Qaida organization, which is led by Osama Bin Laden, and admitted that other fighters of al-Qaida members sneaked into the country.

The paper said that the army depended on information from the detained al-Qaida member to start a mopping up operation in an attempt to define shelters of al-Salafeyah group for "call and fighting."