General Gaid Saleh to meet military zones commanders

The chief of staff of the Algerian army, General Ahmed Gaid Salah is expected to hold a meeting with military zones commanders in the next few days to explain the decision of the chiefs of staff of the Sahel region countries in their last meeting in Bamako, Echorouk has learnt.

• The implementation of the chiefs of staff’s meeting strategy will start soon to fight Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), according to the same source.
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• Al-Qaeda used the desert as a hideout to smuggle drug and weapons. The fighting in Libya between Gaddafi’s forces and revolutionaries had a negative impact on the situation in the Sahel region.
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• The same source said General Ahmed Saleh will give strict instructions to all the military zones to respect those recommendations about security measures stepping up in the Algerian borders with Mali, Mauritania and Niger.
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• The other countries which approved the decision in Bamako started implementing it to tighten the noose on terrorist groups.
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• A few days ago, French intelligence chief said the number of terrorists in the region is estimated at 400.
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• Gaid Saleh’s meeting comes a few days after a rumour had said AQIM is setting up a new base in Mali near borders with Mauritania to carry out possible attacks.