| Oh, good idea. Brilliant, in fact. |
Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika offered peace on Wednesday to any Islamic rebels willing to lay down their arms after more than a decade of fighting a brutal holy war or "jihad". "We are willing to welcome those who want peace with milk and dates," Bouteflika said in his first ever speech to parliament as president. His comments were more conciliatory than usual.
Less than 1,000 rebels, most belonging to the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), still fight. They pledged allegiance to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network in 2003 and continue deadly attacks on Algeria's armed forces. Bouteflika was re-elected for another five-year term in April this year largely because he brought stability for Algerians, many of whom lived in fear for years. After his limited amnesty offer to rebels he has over the past year promoted a "national reconciliation" policy to end the conflict, which isolated Algeria and deprived the oil rich country of much foreign investment. "National reconciliation is the main mechanism granting stability in the country," Bouteflika said.
He has not specified whether that means a blanket amnesty including militants suspected of deadly attacks and threatening state security. No mercy would be offered to those who rejected his offer. "We will not give in to merchants of violence and death and to those who harmed the reputation of our religion and destroyed what a whole generation had built, he said. "There will be no meeting with those who don't denounce violence and don't fight it." Abassi Madani, the former FIS leader, told Reuters last week his banned party was ready to help government peace efforts. "The FIS wants to work with the government ... there is no other option but to have true reconciliation -- as opposed to the false democracy and false freedom that we were offered in the past," said Madani, who has lived in Qatar since his release from prison in 2003. |