Algeria: Al-Qaeda leaders freeze their armed acts

A large number of leaders at the so-called Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb especially in Boumerdes province (50 km east of Algiers) and Bouira (120 km east of Algiers) announced “suspension” of their armed acts until their get fatwa from Salafist scholars.Al-Qaeda’s leaders who sent a letter to the scholars, weeks ago are now in truce and temporary refuse to carry out terrorist attacks.According to security experts, Al-Qaeda’s acts are decreasing not only because of embargo and military operations but due to dissidences inside the group.Repentant terrorists say the group suffers from internal conflicts and a rebellion movement on Abdelmalek Drudkel, the national leader of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.The leaders chose scholars who have a strong influence to issue a fatwa on their acts including suicide attacks, Echorouk has learnt.Experts believe that Drudkel would be dismissed soon but they exclude any race for the leadership of the group due to the lack of individual and collective competences. It is said that Drudkel has been in a “strong position” since Al-Qaeda No 2 man Ayman Al- Zawahiri blessed recent suicide attacks.On the other hand, his dismissal is submitted to criteria imposed by the next phase especially that Mokhtar Belmokhtar, a former senior leader at Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is working on surrendering to authorities.Belmokhtar who was in conflict with Drudkel withrew from the group after Drudkel was at the head of it.