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| Africa: North |
| El-Para jailed for life |
| 2005-06-27 |
| One of Algeria’s top Islamic rebels, wanted in Germany for the kidnap of 32 European tourists in the desert in 2003, was sentenced to life in prison in his absence yesterday for helping to create a terrorist group. Amari Saifi, deputy head of the Al-Qaeda-aligned Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), was convicted in a court in Algiers of creating an armed terrorist group and spreading terror among Algeria’s population. In the same trial, three Algerians were acquitted and two received three years in prison, the judge said. Saifi, a former paratrooper, was tried in his absence as the case was brought to the court before his extradition to Algeria last October. He is in custody at an undisclosed location and under interrogation for other terrorism-related charges. He is wanted in Germany in the kidnapping of 32 European tourists in the Algerian Sahara desert, including several German nationals. The authorities are preparing several charges against Saifi, including kidnappings and numerous killings of soldiers and civilians spanning over a decade. Experts say Saifi built up a base in the inhospitable Sahara desert, partly through the control of contraband. He is also believed to have recruited followers in neighboring countries. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #1 was sentenced to life in prison in his absence yesterday He is in custody at an undisclosed location no doubt some Italian Puke judge will be demanding his release...whatever happened to our good wetworks crews? Jeebus! Sublet to the Bulgarians. Take the Red judges at random and these guys at 100% |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-06-27 23:39 |