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
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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