DATE=1/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-225132
TITLE=ALGERIA/KILLINGS (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THERE HAS BEEN ANOTHER MASSACRE OF CIVILIANS IN ALGERIA.
THE GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL NEWSPAPERS SAY MORE THAN 100 CIVILIANS
WERE KILLED IN AN ATTACK BY ISLAMIST EXTREMISTS ON A VILLAGE NEAR
ALGIERS. MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS.
TEXT: THE LATEST SLAUGHTER TOOK PLACE LATE SUNDAY IN THE
VILLAGE OF SIDI AHMED, ABOUT 20 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF THE CAPITAL.
LOCAL NEWSPAPER REPORTS SAY A LARGE GROUP OF ARMED MEN ATTACKED
THE VILLAGE JUST AFTER EVENING PRAYERS. THE REPORTS SAY MOST OF
THE VICTIMS WERE KILLED IN A MAKESHIFT LOCAL CINEMA, AND AT A
NEARBY MOSQUE.
THERE ARE CONFLICTING CASUALTY FIGURES. BUT A GOVERNMENT
STATEMENT PUTS THE DEATH TOLL AT 103, WITH 70 OTHERS WOUNDED.
THE OFFICIAL STATEMENT SAYS LOCAL MILITIAMEN, ARMED BY THE
GOVERNMENT, HELPED REPEL THE ATTACKERS. SECURITY FORCES LATER
SEALED OFF THE AREA, AND LAUNCHED A SEARCH FOR THE GUNMEN.
THERE HAS BEEN A MARKED UPSURGE IN THE VIOLENCE IN ALGERIA SINCE
THE BEGINNING OF THE MUSLIM HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN 13 DAYS AGO.
ALGERIAN NEWSPAPERS REPORTED MORE THAN ONE-THOUSAND PEOPLE KILLED
IN THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF THE HOLY MONTH, MOSTLY IN THE WESTERN
REGION OF RELIZANE. BUT THE LATEST SLAUGHTER OCCURRED IN THE
RICH FARMING BELT SOUTH OF THE CAPITAL THAT HAS BEEN DUBBED THE
"TRIANGLE OF DEATH" BECAUSE OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF ATTACKS.
ALGERIAN AUTHORITIES CONSISTENTLY BLAME THE VIOLENCE ON
TERRORISTS OF THE "ARMED ISLAMIC GROUP." HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS
ALLEGE THAT THE GOVERNMENT OR ITS SUPPORTERS ARE BEHIND AT LEAST
SOME OF THE BLOODSHED.
//OPT// A REPORT IN THE LONDON SUNDAY NEWSPAPER, THE "OBSERVER,"
QUOTES TWO FORMER ALGERIAN POLICEMEN AS SAYING THEY TOOK PART IN
ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS UNDER ORDERS FROM THE GOVERNMENT. THE
OBSERVER REPORT SAYS THE TWO MEN ARE SEEKING ASYLUM IN BRITAIN.
THERE HAS BEEN NO INDEPENDENT CONFIRMATION OF THEIR CLAIMS.
//END OPT//
ALGIERS HAS REPEATEDLY REJECTED PROPOSALS FOR AN INTERNATIONAL
INVESTIGATION. BUT IN AN APPARENT POLICY SHIFT EARLIER THIS
MONTH, THE GOVERNMENT AGREED TO RECEIVE A DELEGATION FROM THE
EUROPEAN UNION.
THE E-U MISSION, TO INCLUDE SENIOR DIPLOMATS FROM BRITAIN,
AUSTRIA AND LUXEMBOURG, IS EXPECTED TO TRAVEL TO ALGIERS LATER
THIS MONTH. BUT THE SCOPE OF ITS MANDATE HAS NOT YET BEEN
FULLY DEFINED.
//OPT// ALGERIAN OFFICIALS SAY THE PLANNED VISIT SHOULD FOCUS
SOLELY ON WAYS TO COMBAT TERRORISM. ALGIERS WANTS WEST EUROPEAN
GOVERNMENTS TO CRACK DOWN ON EXILED LEADERS AND SUPPORTERS OF
ISLAMIST ORGANIZATIONS. //END OPT//
MEANWHILE, AN ENVOY FROM THE ARAB LEAGUE ARRIVED IN THE ALGERIAN
CAPITAL MONDAY WITH WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A MESSAGE OF SUPPORT
AND SOLIDARITY FOR PRESIDENT LAMINE ZEROUAL. OFFICIALS AT THE
LEAGUE'S CAIRO HEADQUARTERS SAY THEY ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE
ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT CAN OVERCOME THE CRISIS. AND THEY ECHO
ALGERIA'S REJECTION OF ANY OUTSIDE INTERVENTION. (SIGNED)
NEB/DBR/PCF
12-Jan-98 9:52 AM EST (1452 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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