GSPC STATEMENT OF CONGRATULATIONS ON THE ABDUCTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 001554 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2015 TAGS: PTER PREL AG IZ SUBJECT: GSPC STATEMENT OF CONGRATULATIONS ON THE ABDUCTION OF ALGERIAN DIPLOMATS IN IRAQ REF: A. ALGIERS 1538 ¶B. ALGIERS 1539 ¶C. FBIS EUP20050724116003 Classified By: Classified By: CDA MARC J. SIEVERS, for reasons 1.4 (b) (d). ¶1. (U) The Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), an Algerian terrorist group with links to al-Qaida, published July 23 a statement congratulating Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and Al-Qaida in Iraq on the recent kidnapping in Iraq of two Algerian diplomats. The text of the statement is as follows: "The mujahidin in Algeria have received with great joy and pleasure the news of the kidnapping of the two Algerian diplomats (Ali Belaroussi and Azzedine Belkadi) from their brothers in the Al-Qa'idah of Jihad Organization in the Land of the Two Rivers. The apostate Algerian regime has always tried to cover its collaboration and support for the Crusaders in Iraq, and has tried to show its support for the Iraqi people while at the same time stabbing them in the back and supporting the apostate government in Iraq and the Crusader coalition in their fight against the mujahidin and the desecration of the Islamic nation's holy places." ¶2. (U) The statement continued: "On this joyous occasion, the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) would like to extend its blessings and warmest congratulations to its brothers, the brave mujahidin of the Al-Qa'ida of Jihad Organization in the Land of the Two Rivers, and would like to say to them: Bless you our brothers in arms, the beacons of honor in this era of decadence. God bless those pure hands which insisted on avenging Muslim blood and honor, and on punishing the worshippers of the cross and their supporters for their crimes against our nation and religion." COMMENT -------------- ¶3. (C) Algerian contacts have expressed outrage to us at the GSPC's gleeful statement in support of the kidnapping of the two diplomats. The GSPC's public support of Zarqawi's group may lead Algerians to link their own internal war on terrorism with Zarqawi's actions in Iraq. SIEVERS