A US Activist Challenges Allegations over Algeria’s Mercenaries in Libya

US activist, Gare Smith, has denounced allegations prompted by Edward Gabriel over the involvement of Algeria in mercenary operations in Libya to back Muaamar Gaddafi forces.

Mr Smith has responded to “long-time Moroccan lobbyist Edward Gabriel,” in an article posted on www.thehill.com entitled “Is Morocco seeking regional unity, or hegemony over its neighbors?” 

Mr Gabriel, who works as an adviser to the government in Morocco, and served US Ambassador to Rabat (1997-2001),has already written in his blog entry an article entitled: “Mercenaries in Libya: Gadhafi’s Hired Terrorists,” where he accused Algeria of backing the Gaddafi forces with mercenaries.

In this context, Mr Smith says: “Gabriel is characteristically fast and loose with his “facts,” and seems more intent on inflaming passions between Morocco and Algeria than promoting the kind of Maghreb unity that the Government of Morocco publicly espouses,” adding: “n his effort to fuel the Moroccan propaganda machine, Gabriel makes a series of baseless claims premised upon his assertion that Algeria is supporting Moammar Gadhafi against NATO and the Libyan resistance. Such allegations cannot go unchallenged.”

“Gabriel’s assertions to the contrary, NATO itself has made no statements indicating that the Government of Algeria is backing Gadhafi against NATO and the insurgency, and I challenge him to produce such evidence,” former Secretary of State for  of Democracy and Human Rights, remarked.

 “ Ironically, while on the one hand professing to desire closer relations with its neighbors in the Maghreb, on the other hand Morocco persists in paying lobbyists like Gabriel to “stir the pot” by making such specious allegations,” the activists said.

“Algeria has protested against such false claims in the past, and will continue to do so,” he defended.

To read to the full article go to: http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/162615-is-morocco-seeking-regional-unity-or-hegemony-over-its-neighbors