AL-QAEDA IN THE MAGHREB CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 001782

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2027
TAGS: PTER ASEC KISL AG
SUBJECT: AL-QAEDA IN THE MAGHREB CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR
DECEMBER 11 BOMBINGS

REF: A. ALGIERS 1468

B. ALGIERS 1775

C. ALGIERS 1776
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROBERT FORD. REASONS 1.4 (D).


1. (C) Summary: Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)
officially claimed responsibility for the December 11
bombings of the UN and Supreme Court buildings in Algiers in
a communique posted on its official website titled "Conquest
for martyr Sufiane Abi Hydra". One expert on Islamist issues
here told us on December 11 that these attacks are in
retaliation for the death of Sofiane Fassila and other AQIM
regional leaders. Ayachi added that currently there is an
internal struggle between AQIM and the Libyan Islamic
Fighting Group (LIFG) over which group will be Al-Qaeda's
"official representative" in the Maghreb. AQIM was seeking
to prove itself to Usama bin Laden by conducting a
spectacular attack on a foreign target. Ayachi expected
suicide attacks to continue and more foreign targets to be
attacked in the future. The toll in yesterday attacks
according to the Algerian officials is 22 dead and 177
wounded, but many sources are already reporting much higher
numbers. End Summary.

AQIM PROUDLY CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY
-------------- --------------


2. (U) AQIM claimed responsibility for the two December 11
suicide bombings in Algiers in a communique posted on its
official website on December 12. AQIM claimed that the
attacks were in honor of Sofiane Fassila, a regional "emir"
killed by Algerian security forces in October 2007 (ref A).
The attacks, according to the communiquQ, were also in
retaliation for the deaths of other regional leaders killed
by the Algerian security services in the past month.


3. (U) In its communiquQ, AQIM threatened more suicide
attacks against the Algerian government, accusing it of lying
to the public when it claimed in November to have eliminated
the core of AQIM's foundation. The communique also
threatened foreigners "Crusaders" in Algeria, promising more
attacks in the future if they do not heed Usama bin Laden's
warnings; leave occupied lands; and stop "stealing the
fortune" of the Maghreb. AQIM also taunted the Algerian
government for its inability to suppress AQIM operations in
the "Algiers Green Zone" (Hydra neighborhood in the capital).


4. (U) In the communique AQIM also claimed responsibility for
the attack on three military aircraft in Djanet on November

8. They said the attack was conducted under the leadership
of Yahia Abi Omar. They also took responsibility for a
failed attack on a bus transporting employees the Russian
company Stroitransgaz near Medea on December 8.

WHAT THE ALGERIANS ARE SAYING
--------------


5. (C) Ahmeda Ayachi, editor in chief of Al-Djazair news and
an expert on Islamic issues told us December 11 that AQIM
needs to prove itself to Usama bin Laden. He said AQIM needs
to prove to the Al-Qaeda mother organization that it has the
appropriate skills and qualifications to be the official AQ
"representative" in the region. Ayachi added that the LIFG
announcement of its allegiance to Al-Qaeda in November,
threatened AQIM. AQIM then felt the need to conduct a
spectacular attack in order to prove to UBL that they were
better qualified to conduct deadly attacks against the
enemies of Islam. Ayachi commented that by attacking a
foreign interest, like the UN building AQIM had abandoned its
Salafi ideology and joined Bin Laden in his global jihad.


6. (C) Anis Rahmani, the well informed editor in chief of the
Arabic-language Ennahar newspaper, claimed to us on December
11 that in the past AQIM suicide bombers did not know that
they were going on suicide missions, and that their bombs
were usually detonated from afar via a cell phone. In
contrast, Rahmani was confident that the December 11 bombers
knew they were going on a suicide mission. (Note: The local
press is reporting December 12 that the bomber at the UN
office was a man in his 50's, which is a departure from
recent bombers, most of whom were under 30. A photo of the
man appears on the AQIM website, but without giving his age.
End Note.) Rahmani asserted that AQIM has a new katibat

(cell) based in Algiers assigned specifically to conduct
suicide missions in the capitol, and it would be very
difficult for the Algerian government to track them down.
Rahmani (who is closely connected to the internal
intelligence service) zeroed in on hardliner and former
Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) leader Ali Benhadj, whose son
joined AQIM in April 2006, accusing Ali Benhajj of inciting
young Algerians in joining AQIM through his speeches and
statements.


7. (C) Comment: The December 11 attacks followed two months
that were relatively quiet in terms of AQIM attacks. That
period of relative calm in the wake of AQIM operative Sofiane
Fassila's death, and the group's drive to retaliate for that
death were expected (ref A). If AQIM and Droukdal sought to
demonstrate they are still potent, the December 11 attacks
were a huge success for them. The communique made no mention
of the deaths of scores of innocent civilians, and in past
attacks such deaths caused controversy within Jihadi ranks.
Thus, while AQIM has again demonstrated its deadly
capabilities, the December 11 bombings may also cause AQIM's
leadership credibility problems later. We have not seen any
reporting to confirm the Rahmani claim of a new AQIM katibabt
operating specifically in Algiers, but a number of our
non-government contacts are warning us of future attacks to
occur sooner or later in the capital.
FORD