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DATE=6/27/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251149
TITLE=ALGIRIA / PARDON / L-O
BYLINE=LISA BRYANT
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  ALGERIAN PRESIDENT ABDELAZIA BOUTEFLIKA SAYS HE WILL 
PARDON THOUSANDS OF ISLAMIST PRISONERS ON THE COUNTRY'S 
INDEPENDENCE DAY, JULY FIFTH.  FROM CAIRO, LISA BRYANT REPORTS 
THAT -- IF GRANTED -- THE PARDON MAY MARK THE GOVERNMENT'S FIRST 
SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARD REACHING A POSSIBLE CONCESSION WITH SOME 
OF ALGERIA'S REBEL GROUPS.
TEXT:  IN GENEVA, PRESIDENT BOUTEFLIKA ANNOUNCED PLANS TO PARDON 
SOME MUSLIM INSURGENTS.  IN REMARKS CARRIED ON ALGERIA'S STATE 
RADIO, MR. BOUTEFLIKA INDICATED ONLY ACTIVISTS NOT CONVICTED OF 
SERIOUS CRIMES IN THE COUNTRY'S NEARLY-30-YEAR INSURGENCY WOULD 
BE PARDONED.
HE SAYS THE AMNESTY WILL NOT INCLUDE PRISONERS WHO COMMITTED 
MURDER OR RAPE.  THE PRESIDENT APPEARS TO BE LEAVING OUT THE 
MORE-MILITANT ACTIVISTS IN THE SWEEPING PARDONS -- INCLUDING 
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED ISLAMIC GROUP, WHICH THE GOVERNMENT HAS 
BLAMES FOR SOME OF THE BLOODIEST ATTACKS IN ALGERIA.  OVERALL, 
FIGHTING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND MILITANT OPPOSITION GROUPS 
HAS KILLED AT LEAST 70 THOUSAND PEOPLE SINCE 1972.
IF GRANTED, THE PARDONS MAY BE THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARD 
MEETING PRESIDENT BOUTEFLIKA'S CAMPAIGN PROMISE TO RESTORE PEACE 
TO VIOLENCE-TORN ALGERIA.  IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS, THE BOUTEFLIKA 
ADMINISTRATION HAS INDICATED IT WANTED TO REACH AN ACCORD WITH 
ANOTHER MILITANT GROUP -- THE ISLAMIC SALVATION ARMY, WHICH 
CALLED A UNILATERAL CEASEFIRE IN 1997.
THE ISLAMIC SALVATION ARMY IS THE ARMED WING OF THE ISLAMIC 
SALVATION FRONT, WHICH TOOK THE LEAD IN ALGERIA'S 1992 ELECTIONS.
THE MILITARY-RUN GOVERNMENT CANCELLED THE SECOND ROUND OF 
ELECTIONS, AFTER THE SALVATION FRONT APPEARED TO BE WINNING.  THE
CANCELLATION SPARKED A NEW WAVE OF VIOLENCE IN ALGERIA.
BUT SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, THE SALVATION ARMY'S LEADER -- MADANI 
MEZRAG -- CALLED ON PRESIDENT BOUTEFLIKA TO SEEK A NATIONAL 
RECONCILIATION IN ALGERIA.  HE SAID HE WOULD HELP THE GOVERNMENT 
FIGHT OTHER MILITANT FACTIONS, IF THE PRESIDENT ENDORSED HIS 
GROUP'S CEASEFIRE.
PRESIDENT BOUTEFLIKA WAS ELECTED THIS SPRING, AFTER A BITTER 
PRIMARY IN WHICH HIS SIX RIVALS WITHDREW AT THE LAST MINUTE.  
THEY CLAIMED VOTE RIGGING BY ALGERIA'S MILITARY-BACKED 
GOVERNMENT.  (SIGNED)
NEB / AB / DWJ-T / WD
27-Jun-99 5:19 AM EDT (0919 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.