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| Africa North |
| French intelligence estimate to 400 members of AQIM |
| 2011-05-07 |
| [Ennahar] The CEO of the French domestic Central Intelligence Bernard Squarcini believes that the number of Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) is about 400 men in an interview to Le Monde published Friday. "We went in two years from 150 to 400 men, with a supply circle of 150 to 200 men," says Squarcini. "Since its allegiance to Al Qaeda (2006), AQIM has increased its activities," he said, adding that "La Belle France is the leading the threatened countries." AQIM held hostage since mid-September 2010 four Frenchies kidnapped in northern Niger, and an Italian kidnapped Feb. 2 in southern Algeria. AQIM, formerly the Salafist ...Salafists espouse an austere form of Sunni Islam that seeks a return to practices that were common in the 7th century. Rather than doing that themselves and letting other people alone they insist everybody do as they say and they try to kill everybody who doesn't... Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) in Algeria, also has bases in Mali where it operates in several countries of the Sahel and is guilty of attacks, kidnappings - mostly Westerners - and engaged in various illegal trades. |
| Posted by:Fred |