Algerian rebel leader's surrender, a myth

Algerian newspapers dismissed as untrue the reported surrender of a leader of the Armed Islamic Group (GIA). Algeria’s official news agency, APS, carried a roundup of the newspaper reports which denied that the GIA number two Radwan Makadour had surrendered last month.

According to the newspaper, the original report of him giving himself up was a “prelude to a new internal fighting between the Emirs (leaders)” of the GIA.

The newspaper, a day after reporting his surrender, said in fact Makadour had been wounded in the Chrea hills south of Algiers nearly a month ago but had succeeded in escaping capture.