Some news about GSPC in Sahara ( AFP ) ; in french ...
It seems that a lot of the tourist's abductors (in 2003) have been neutralised after a fight with tchadian army in Tibesti .
Before they were fighted by Nigerian troops in Air after an attack against european tourists in February 2004 .

http://www.izf.net/izf/AFP/francais/....agokn0gj.html

Robert .

More news about the end Of the GSPC group in Chad :
It seems that all the group , including his chief ("le para") has been neutralized by chadian army in Tibesti
RR .


http://www.izf.net/izf/AFP/francais/....xd8oco0f.html

Thanks Ro, let's hope it's true. These guys sure got around and had one hell of a year!

CS

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

"let's hope it's true"

Actually, probably not now that I've caught up with the news.

Ch

(see Sahara news)

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

Hello,

Abderrazak is said to be escaped and back into Algeria (Sources in Bamako).

Tibesti: Abderrezak "le Para" en fuite (diplomate, militaire)
http://www.izf.net/izf/AFP/francais/....vnd85pia.html

Yves

[This message has been edited by Yves (edited 19 March 2004).]

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Yves

I heard today that Lamari got away from that raid with a Chad guide but was found dead in a ravine a week later, near Faya. Apparently he slipped and fell..

Ch

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

That's the problem with flip-flops...

Sam.

There was also talk on Moroccan TV about '700 GSPC surrendering with Lamari' - sounds even less likely.

Ch

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

Thanks to the ravine ....

RR .

Another twist. See...

http://www.sahara-overland.com/news/index.htm

CS

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

I have found these infos on Algeria Interface


BAMAKO, May 8 (AFP)
A senior member of a radical Algerian Islamist group, wanted in connection with the kidnapping of European tourists, is being held by an armed group in Chad, sources in the Malian capital Bamako said Saturday.
Amari Saifi, also known as Abderrezak "the Para", is believed to be second in command of the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC). Since September 2003 he has been the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by Germany after two groups of European tourists were seized.
Thirty two Austrian, Dutch, German and Swiss tourists were abducted in the Algerian Sahara desert in February and March 2003 and held for between three and six months. One, a German woman, died during her captivity.
The sources say the group holding Saifi is either the Movement for Democracy and Justice in Chad (MDJT) or a breakaway organisation.
"It is becoming clearer and clearer that for several weeks Abderrezak has been held by an armed group which could well be the MDJT," and African diplomat in Mali, who asked not to be named, said.
"His movements are restricted. And this armed group would do the fight against terrorism a real service by handing him over to the appropriate people."
In March a Chadian military source said that government troops had killed 43 members of the GSPC close to the border with Niger.
He alleged that the GSPC, which is included on a US list of terror organisations with links to the Al-Qaeda network, had infiltrated the country and was trying to join forces with the MDJT.
The claim was denied by the MDJT, which also maintained that the clashes were a figment of someone's imagination.
The diplomat said that Abderrezak had been "hoist with his own petard."
"For the time being all the signs, descriptions and evidence provided confirm that 'the Para' is indeed the prisoner of an armed group in Chad," a source working for a foreign security agency in Bamako said.
"Two African countries closely involved in counter-terrorism have this information."
He said Abderrezak had been formally identified.
"It is slightl y the case of the biter bit," he said. "'The Para' demanded and got a ransom for the freeing of the European hostages (kidnapped in Algeria and later freed in Mali). Today it seems that the armed group holding him is demanding a ransom to deliver him to a third country."
A source working for a humanitarian organisation, who is familiar with the activities of the GSPC in the zone where the borders of Algeria, Mali and Mauritania meet, said the reports were "possible".
"What is sure is that in the clash with the Chadian army 'Billal', (Abderrakek's) right hand man, was killed.
"But 'the Para' had disappeared. After the clash he made a call on his satellite phone and since then nothing."
The phone number could not be reached when AFP tried it.
Military sources in Bamako claimed at the time he was fighting with the MDJT in the Tibesti region in northwest Chad, but a diplomatic source said he was on the run.

Hungarian news agency (MTI) just released that 'el Para'was arrested in Chad in the company of one other accomplice. Source is a statement today by the German Public Prosecutioner's office, Karlsruhe. No other details known.

This could be a new development, or just a paraphrasing of things already known.

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Happy Travels,
Andras

FJ Expeditions

Sounds like it could be a genuine development: http://www.algeria-interface.com/new...9.h4kwxeza.xml

I wonder if the Germans (or maybe US?) had to pay another ransom?

Ch

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

All change - who knows?
I hear that negotiations with the MDJT rebels to hand Amari and his men over to the authorities failed and instead the GSPC moved in and paid 200,000 euros for the return of their leader who is now said to be free in southern Algeria.
The Pan Sahelians are said to be on the case.

Ch

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

There are serious doubts if Le Para has ever been to Tchad - the descriptions indicate that some of his lientenants might have been there, but most of the "evidence" is created by some media applying European standards to African "truth".

Regards,
Peter