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DATE=7/4/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251411
TITLE=ALGERIA/MILITANTS (S/L)
BYLINE=LISA BRYANT
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  ALGERIAN PRESIDENT ABDELAZIZ BOUTEFLIKA GRANTED AMNESTY 
SUNDAY TO THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS IMPLICATED IN TERRORIST 
ACTIVITIES.  FROM CAIRO, LISA BRYANT REPORTS THE MOVE CAME 
ONE-DAY BEFORE ALGERIA CELEBRATES ITS INDEPENDENCE DAY.
TEXT:  ISSUED IN AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT, THE AMNESTY MAY MARK THE 
NEW ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT'S FIRST SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARD REACHING 
A POSSIBLE SETTLEMENT WITH SOME ISLAMIST REBEL GROUPS.
IT IS UNCLEAR HOW MANY PRISONERS WILL BE RELEASED UNDER THE 
AMNESTY.  THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THE AMNESTY WILL NOT APPLY TO THOSE
CONVICTED OF RAPE OR VIOLENT CRIMES.  
PARDONS MAY COVER THOSE SUSPECTED OF FINANCING OR OTHERWISE 
SUPPORTING TERRORISTS.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES JUST TWO-DAYS BEFORE ALGERIA'S PARLIAMENT 
DEBATES A PEACE PLAN BEING DISCUSSED BY THE BOUTEFLIKA 
GOVERNMENT.  THE DRAFT LEGISLATION, WHICH LAWMAKERS ARE EXPECTED 
TO RATIFY, WOULD OFFER MILITANTS AMNESTY IN STAGGERED STAGES, 
DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN TERRORIST 
ACTIVITY.
THE LEGISLATION WOULD THEN BE UP FOR A NATIONAL REFERENDUM.  MR. 
BOUTEFLIKA, WHO TOOK OFFICE IN APRIL ON THE PROMISE OF RESTORING 
PEACE, SAYS HE WILL RESIGN IF IT IS VOTED DOWN.
                        /// REST OPT /// 
SUNDAY'S SWEEPING PARDONS APPEAR TO BE A RECONCILIATION GESTURE 
AIMED AT THE "ISLAMIC SALVATION ARMY", A MILITANT GROUP THAT 
DECLARED A CEASEFIRE IN 1997. THE SALVATION ARMY IS THE ARMED 
WING OF THE "ISLAMIC SALVATION FRONT", WHICH TOOK THE LEAD IN 
ALGERIA'S 1992 ELECTIONS.  THE GOVERNMENT CANCELLED THE 
ELECTIONS, SPARKING WAVE OF BLOODSHED IN ALGERIA THAT BY OFFICIAL
RECKONING HAS CAUSED THE DEATHS OF 100-THOUSAND PEOPLE.
THE FRONT HAS MADE CONCILIATORY MOVES IN RECENT WEEKS.  BUT 
ANOTHER MILITANT ORGANIZATION, THE ARMED ISLAMIC GROUP, HAS VOWED
TO CONTINUE ITS STRUGGLE AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT.   (SIGNED)
NEB/LB/DW/RAE
04-Jul-99 1:49 PM EDT (1749 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.