Algerian army kills 10 members of al-Salafeyah group

Algerian security sources said yesterday that the Algerian army killed, by the end of January, some 10 members of "al-Salafeyah group for call and fighting" in an operation at the border with Mali.

The same sources added that the army detained two other armed Islamists, while other members of the groups fled and were monitored in four jeep cars during an attempt to escape through the borders between Algeria and Mali to head towards North Algeria.

These members belong to the "al-Salafeyah group for call and fighting" which held 32 European tourists as hostages for more than 5 months in the desert of Mali and Algeria in 2003.

The Algerian army presidency said that the army found during the operation weapons which were bought from weapons smugglers from neighboring countries by money of the ransom paid by a western country for releasing its hostages in Mali in August, 2003.

This is, however, the first time in which an Algerian official source talks clearly about a western country, in remarks to Germany, which paid the ransom for releasing its citizens. The German papers expected that this ransom which Berlin did not admit to have paid to be estimated at five million Euros.

The Algerian dailies on the other hand, stated news on a third split in the lines of "al-Salafeyah group for call and fighting" with the emergence of a new coalition in east Algeria.

The papers said, according to security sources, that an armed movement introducing itself as the free Salafeyah group, splitting from "al-Salafeyah group for call and fighting," appeared in the mountainous areas in Kolo, near Skikda ( 500 KM to the east of the capital.) This group which is led by Abu Muthla opposes negotiations, the historical leader of this movement, Hassan Hattab, positioned in Kbylie area, 100 Km to the east of the capital, was trying to make with the authorities.

"Al-Salafeyah group for call and fighting" which includes between 400 to 500 members, according to the Algerian army, was a victim of hostility that led to its split into three groups.

At a time when the Emir of "al-Salafeyah group for call and fighting," Hassan Hattab, is besieged in Kbylie area, a new Emir appeared. He is Nabil Sahrawi known as Abu Ibrahim Mustafa, and settled in the far east in Tebseh province.

On the other hand, Abdul Razzaq al-Bara, the former officer at Hassan Hattab who held the European tourists, might be at the Algerian- Moroccan borders.