DATE=1/19/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ALGERIA / AMNESTY (L)
NUMBER=2-258209
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The Algerian government says 80 percent
of the Islamic militants in the country's eight-
year civil war have laid down their arms under a
recent amnesty program. V-O-A Correspondent
Scott Bobb reports from our Middle East bureau in
Cairo that it is the first official assessment of
an amnesty offer launched by the government six
months ago.
TEXT: Algerian Interior Minister Yazid Zerhouni
told reporters in Algiers, Wednesday, that about
four thousand rebels have taken advantage of the
amnesty since it began last year.
These reportedly include the estimated 25 hundred
members of the Armed Islamic Group who were
granted a general amnesty last week in exchange
for the dissolution of their organization. The
figure would also include about one thousand
rebels who belonged to other groups that have
rejected the amnesty.
An estimated one thousand rebels remain at arms,
primarily in mountainous areas to the west and
east of the Algerian capital. Algerian officials
have vowed to eliminate those rebels who do not
surrender.
Independent news media in Algeria report security
forces have moved troops, helicopters and heavy
artillery into these regions in preparation for a
major offensive against the rebels.
It was the first official assessment of the
results of a reconciliation program launched by
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika following his
election last April.
Under the program, those rebels not involved in
murder, rape or bomb attacks would be granted
amnesty if they laid down their arms. The
program, called the Civil Concord, was passed by
the Algerian national assembly and overwhelmingly
approved in a popular referendum last September.
One hundred thousand people have died in the
eight year-old conflict, which began when the
military cancelled national elections that
Islamist parties were poised to win. President
Bouteflika was elected after military leaders
decided to hand power to a civilian president in
an effort to end the violence. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/GE/KL
19-Jan-2000 11:22 AM EDT (19-Jan-2000 1622 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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