Interesting news.

Translation of extract from L'Expression newspaper (Ouargla) 9 August 2003.

HOSTAGE TAKERS CORNERED IN MALIAN DESERT

Gamble (le Pari) lost for 'Abderazak The Para'

Desire for supremacy and apparent split with Hattab seem to have made him
irretrievably isolated

Amari Saifi, or for those who prefer terrorist chief sobriquets,
Abderazak The Para, seems about to lose his war just after pulling off the
most spectacular media-terrorist coup of the year (picture of Amari).

His group succeeded in negotiating his escape to Mali with European
hostages who have been held for over 5 months, but today he seems
irretrievably isolated in the north eastern Malian desert, between special
forces, chancers seeking financial rewards and an increasingly hostile
local population. The only way out would seem to be capture or death. Even
with 60 million euros in his pocket - the ransom amount demanded for the
release of 14 hostages, 4 of whom are very seriously ill - Abderazak the
Para can no longer escape the net closing in on him in a hostile,
little-known [to him] terrain, and cut off from his intermediaries and
supporters in Algeria. Even his most faithful ally, Mokhtar Belmokhtar, can
no longer be of any help to him. His ambition, struggle for leadership with
Hacene Hattab and his guerilla temperament led
him to attempt a spectacular action which would have given him power and
supremacy while discrediting his chief and national leader of the
military-terrorist Gspc, Hacene Hattab.

The capture of 32 European hostages in the Algerian Saharan provoked such
outrage in the international media that Abderazak The Para could have
stolen the limelight from Hattab. But Mali hasnt been as promising as the
kidnappers had hoped for: neither logistically, nor from the point of view
of support from Tuareg rebels, nor even the ransom being in place.

Today, Abderazak the Para is practically finished, and we can only follow
the outcome of the hostage affair to discover his fate. Is he in effect
among the hostage-takers? Many think so, and possibly Hattab is praying for
his most dangerous rival to be killed or captured on Malian territory.

Abderazak The Para, ex-member of special army forces is an imposing,
heavily built warrior-like figure. Born on 1 January 1968 in Guelma
(according to the Gendarmerie), 23 April 1966 (army source), he lived in
the community of
Bouhachana, district of Guelma. From 1988, he showed allegiance to
Islamicism. The following year he began planning to found an Islamist state
in Algeria. Djouni on contract with special forces, not deserter as western
media suggest, he was sentenced by military court in Constantine to 3
months in prison, charged with infringement of orders. Army sources say he
deserted in 1991. Other sources say he broke ranks to end his contract.

Islamic fundamentalist and hateful of the authorities, he naturally
joined guerilla activities through the GIA. He was quickly promoted to rank
of chief, and in the Zitouni epoque was a member of the GIA directorate.
He broke away from the GIA in 1996 and with Hattab set up the Gspc in the
Kabylie region in 1998.

Abderazak the Para, chief of chiefs, was promoted to No 2 of the
military hierarchy of the organisation, commanding the 5th zone (Batna,
Tebassa, Oum El-Bouaghi and Setif), towns he knows well. Specialist in
surprise attacks against military contingents and police in the east of the
country, he was soon hated by the security forces.

From 2002 he began to distance himself from Hattab Hacene, his chief and
No 1 in the Gspc. His penchant for media coups pushed him to capture
European tourists from the end of February 2003 in the triangle of fire:
Tam Illizi Ouargla.

__________________
Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail