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DATE=6/6/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250300
TITLE=ALGERIA CEASEFIRE (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: THE MAIN REBEL GROUP IN ALGERIA SAYS IT HAS DECIDED TO END
ITS ARMED ANTI-GOVERNMENT STRUGGLE AND THE ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT 
SAYS IT WILL OFFER AMNESTY TO REBELS WHO LAY DOWN THEIR ARMS. 
CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU IN 
CAIRO THAT THE ANNOUNCEMENTS FOLLOW A PROMISE MADE BY ALGERIA'S 
NEW PRESIDENT UPON HIS ELECTION SIX WEEKS AGO.
TEXT: ALGERIA'S ISLAMIC SALVATION ARMY MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT 
SUNDAY AND STATE-OWNED TELEVISION ANNOUNCED THE GOVERNMENT'S 
AMNESTY OFFER SHORTLY THEREAFTER.
THE WELL-COORDINATED ANNOUNCEMENTS FOLLOW A SERIES OF DISCREET 
MEETINGS BETWEEN REBEL LEADERS AND THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT 
ABDELAZIZ BOUTEFLIKA, WHO ASSUMED OFFICE AFTER CONTROVERSIAL 
ELECTIONS LAST APRIL.
THERE ARE REPORTS THAT AS PART OF THE DEAL, THE LEADER OF THE 
GUERRILLAS' CIVILIAN WING, MADANI MEZRAG, MAY SOON BE RELEASED 
FROM HOUSE ARREST. MR. MEZRAG'S GROUP, THE ISLAMIC SALVATION 
FRONT, LAUNCHED THE REBELLION SEVEN YEARS AGO, AFTER THE ALGERIAN
MILITARY CANCELLED ELECTIONS IT WAS POISED TO WIN.
                    ///REST OPT FOR LONG ///
THE SALVATION FRONT DECLARED A UNILATERAL CEASEFIRE TWO YEARS AGO
AND BACKED ONE OF THE CANDIDATES IN LAST APRIL'S PRESIDENTIAL 
ELECTIONS. THE MOVES WERE SEEN AS PART OF A TREND AWAY FROM 
VIOLENCE AND TOWARD A MORE CONVENTIONAL ROLE IN ALGERIAN 
POLITICS.
NEVERTHELESS, TWO OTHER GUERRILLA GROUPS HAVE VOWED TO CONTINUE 
THEIR ATTACKS AGAINST SECURITY FORCES AND PRO-GOVERNMENT MILITIA.
PRESIDENT BOUTEFLIKA IS BACKED BY A BROAD SEGMENT OF THE 
POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT AND HE RECEIVED MORE THAN 70 PERCENT OF 
THE VOTE, ALTHOUGH THE SIX OTHER CANDIDATES WITHDREW ON THE EVE 
OF THE ELECTION CITING WIDESPREAD IRREGULARITIES.
THE VOTE WAS SEEN AS AN ENDORSEMENT FOR PRESIDENT BOUTEFLIKA'S 
PLEDGE TO SEEK AN END TO THE VIOLENCE THAT HAS KILLED MORE THAN 
70 THOUSAND PEOPLE AND HINDERED FOREIGN INVESTMENT WHICH ALGERIA 
NEEDS TO REVIVE ITS ECONOMY. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/ENE/WFR
06-Jun-99 7:02 PM EDT (2302 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.