DATE=12/25/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ALGERIA ATTACK (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-257489
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Security officials in Algeria say Islamic
militants have massacred about 30 people (Friday) in a
highway ambush. Richard Engel reports from our Middle
East bureau that it was the deadliest attack since
Algerians approved a plan in September to stop the
violence in the country.
TEXT: A survivor said the militants stopped four cars
and a bus in the town of Khemis Miliana 90 kilometers
outside of Algeria and opened fire with machine guns.
The witness said the gunmen then rushed in with knives
to kill those who had survived the barrage of bullets.
The massacre, carried out in broad daylight, was the
bloodiest attack since September when Algerians
approved President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's plan to stop
the cycle of violence that has plagued Algeria since
1992.
The plan offers amnesty to Islamic militants who have
not been directly involved in violent crimes if they
turn in their weapons.
President Bouteflika has set January 13th as the
deadline for militants to turn in their weapons.
In the past, attacks by Islamic militants in Algeria
have increased during this Muslim Holy month of
Ramadan.
An estimated 100 people have been killed in Algeria
since Ramadan began two weeks ago.
Officials say estimate that more than 100-thousand
people have been killed since the civil strife began
in Algeria in 1992 when the government canceled
elections that an Islamic group appeared set to win.
(SIGNED)
NEB/RHE/JP
25-Dec-1999 08:01 AM EDT (25-Dec-1999 1301 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
