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