News from Kidal
 

27/09/2006, 16H50

Accrochages mortels entre le GSPC et l'Alliance Democratique du23Mai pour le Changement
Accrochages mortels entre des elements de l'Alliance et la direction militaire du GSPC residant au Sahara. Il en a resulté la mort des trois principaux chefs dont le remplaçant de El Para. De source bien informée cette operation vise à rassurer les autorités Algeriennes de la bonne foi pour une bonne collaboration et prouver à l'opinion internationale que l'Alliance n'a rien de commun avec les Salafistes.

from http://www.kidal.info/infos/news/infos.php

RR.

?
 

And what is that in English ??

If I understand the situation correctly, the Alliance is a former group of rebels that recently signed a peace agreement with the government; and the GSPC is a group of bandits/religious extremists that became well-known after they kidnapped 32 travelers in Algeria in 2003. The leader of the GSPC, called El Para, was recently captured and sentenced to life in prison.

Basically the article says that the Alliance, in order to show their good faith to the international community, has attacked the GSPC and killed 3 of their leaders, including a big fish - El Para's replacement.

These are good news. What it means for travelers like us is that the Sahara might become safe again in Mali, Mauritania and Algeria (while unfortunately eastern Niger and northern Chad still have problems with a different kind of guns & bandits).

Pierre (& Merritt too)
http://www.photobiker.com