Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANTANANARIVO175
2007-02-21 08:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Antananarivo
Cable title:
Malagasy Gendarmes Arrest Three in Khalifa Murder
how-toVZCZCXYZ0012 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHAN #0175 0520822 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 210822Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4333 INFO RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0045 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0811 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 0938 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 0004 RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH 0004
UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000175
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E MBEYZEROV
DEPT FOR DS/IP/AF AKORT
DEPT FOR DS/DSS/ITA DROTHSTEIN
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER D'ELIA
PRETORIA FOR MBONNER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PTER MA
SUBJECT: Malagasy Gendarmes Arrest Three in Khalifa Murder
REF: A. Antananarivo 0098
B. Antananarivo 0109
UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000175
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E MBEYZEROV
DEPT FOR DS/IP/AF AKORT
DEPT FOR DS/DSS/ITA DROTHSTEIN
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER D'ELIA
PRETORIA FOR MBONNER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PTER MA
SUBJECT: Malagasy Gendarmes Arrest Three in Khalifa Murder
REF: A. Antananarivo 0098
B. Antananarivo 0109
1. (SBU) Gendarmerie contacts confirmed to the RSO February 20 that
three Malagasy men suspected in the murder of Jamal Khalifa were
arrested in the southern part of Madagascar (reftels). A fourth
suspect who attempted to flee was shot and killed. Police did not
recover any of the stolen items and consider the investigation
almost complete. One newspaper, "Midi", reported the investigation
was complicated because the Gendarmerie did not have an Arabic
translator.
2. (SBU) In the three weeks since Khalifa, brother-in-law of Osama
bin Laden and reported financier of Abu Sayef, was murdered, press
interest in the case has continued: speculation about the possible
al-Qaeda connection, reports of the charter plane that returned
Khalifa's remains to Saudi Arabia, and questions about Madagascar's
security and possible exposure to terrorism.
3. (SBU) The disreputable but widely-read "La Gazette" printed an
email message which criticized the inadequate investigation into
Khalifa's murder. The email was signed "Fazul Abdullah Mohamed,"
but the paper speculates the message was more likely written by a
"follower" in southern Madagascar. The email message further
suggests that Malagasy authorities and "western intelligence
agencies" were complicit in the "assassination" of Khalifa. While
"La Gazette" is broadly known to not be credible, it still has the
effect of fuelling rumors.
4. (SBU) 21 days after Khalifa's murder, there seems to be little
progress in identifying his killers or securing his stolen property.
Post will only report further if there are significant
developments.
MCGEE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E MBEYZEROV
DEPT FOR DS/IP/AF AKORT
DEPT FOR DS/DSS/ITA DROTHSTEIN
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER D'ELIA
PRETORIA FOR MBONNER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PTER MA
SUBJECT: Malagasy Gendarmes Arrest Three in Khalifa Murder
REF: A. Antananarivo 0098
B. Antananarivo 0109
1. (SBU) Gendarmerie contacts confirmed to the RSO February 20 that
three Malagasy men suspected in the murder of Jamal Khalifa were
arrested in the southern part of Madagascar (reftels). A fourth
suspect who attempted to flee was shot and killed. Police did not
recover any of the stolen items and consider the investigation
almost complete. One newspaper, "Midi", reported the investigation
was complicated because the Gendarmerie did not have an Arabic
translator.
2. (SBU) In the three weeks since Khalifa, brother-in-law of Osama
bin Laden and reported financier of Abu Sayef, was murdered, press
interest in the case has continued: speculation about the possible
al-Qaeda connection, reports of the charter plane that returned
Khalifa's remains to Saudi Arabia, and questions about Madagascar's
security and possible exposure to terrorism.
3. (SBU) The disreputable but widely-read "La Gazette" printed an
email message which criticized the inadequate investigation into
Khalifa's murder. The email was signed "Fazul Abdullah Mohamed,"
but the paper speculates the message was more likely written by a
"follower" in southern Madagascar. The email message further
suggests that Malagasy authorities and "western intelligence
agencies" were complicit in the "assassination" of Khalifa. While
"La Gazette" is broadly known to not be credible, it still has the
effect of fuelling rumors.
4. (SBU) 21 days after Khalifa's murder, there seems to be little
progress in identifying his killers or securing his stolen property.
Post will only report further if there are significant
developments.
MCGEE