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Mokhtar turns to propaganda to boost image | ||||||
2013-09-04 | ||||||
[MAGHAREBIA] As part of a struggle to improve his name since losing his al-Qaeda command, terrorist Mokhtar Belmokhtar just released a "greatest hits" video of his freelance work in Mali, Algeria and Niger.
The MUJAO and al-Mua'qi'oon Biddam -- Laaouar's group -- grabbed credit for the Niger violence, saying the actions were to avenge the February killing of Al-Qaeda brigade commander terrorist Abdelhamid Abou Zeid by international forces in Mali. Laaouar appears on the tape training fighters for the Niger attacks, dubbed "Sheikh Abdelhamid Abou Zeid's conquest". The video includes photos of Abou Zeid with Belmokhtar, to emphasise their accord. Going at it alone has not proven successful for the one-eyed terrorist. The ousted al-Qaeda brigade leader last month joined forces with Mali-based terror group Movement of Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) to create the "Mourabitounes".
The video shows training and preparations for the 2013 siege at Algeria's In Amenas gas plant, which left dozens of civilian hostages dead. The January attack was a joint operation by the MUJAO and Laaouar's katibat. The tape also features clips of the gunnies in action in northern Mali last year. Laaouar's "Brigade of the Veiled Ones" and their MUJAO allies are seen engaged in bloody festivities in Gao against the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA).
"This latest media production is an attempt by this group to show that it still has the strength and the gear to continue the fight in the Sahel," filmmaker Zine El Abidine Ould Bukhari told Magharebia. "It is nothing more than a propaganda movie," he added. "This display of military equipment and mental readiness of terrorist elements did not bear fruit in the real field of confrontation, which means that it is mainly promotional material and nothing more."
According to Sahara Media Editor Bashir Ould Babana, Belmokhtar was weakened and his forces divided. "Therefore Laaouar is seeking to reunite the remaining pieces and trying to rebuild an organization through publicity campaigns and buying weapons," Babana said. To that end, the terrorist is now in Libya, Mosaique FM reported on Friday. "Laaouar, who has a network of positive relations with some of the leaders of terrorist organizations in Libya, was accompanied on his trip by Iyad Ag Ghaly, leader of Ansar al-Din," the Tunisian radio station reported. Laaouar is in Libya looking for weapons, unnamed security sources reportedly told the radio station, in order to conduct terrorist attacks in Tunisia and Algeria. | ||||||
Posted by:Fred |
#4 The "Mourabitounes finally competition for Frank G. and the Turbans. |
Posted by: Shipman 2013-09-04 13:57 |
#3 Maybe Mokhtar should get an older, 'seasoned' second-in-command, one with a sense of humor and foreign policy experience. |
Posted by: Pappy 2013-09-04 13:52 |
#2 "We're going for the softer, empathetic, crazed killer image. Perhaps an ascot?" |
Posted by: Frank G 2013-09-04 08:34 |
#1 The guy cut a multi-media video resume? Is he gonna post it on Utube? |
Posted by: Skidmark 2013-09-04 07:48 |