ALGIERS, 21 August 2005 — Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika yesterday said he would step up the fight against terrorism in the country and stop militants from reigniting their armed campaign in Algeria.
“Let us declare loud and strong: Never again,” Bouteflika said in a speech in the eastern city of Skikda, released by the Algerian press agency APS. “We will do everything to make sure there is no more terrorism in this country,” he said.
The Algerian leader’s comments came amid reports of new deadly attacks blamed on militants in the past few days. Late Friday, six people were cut in the throat by rebels, who set up a false roadblock near the city of Batna, east of Algiers, police sources and witnesses said. Witnesses also said one woman was kidnapped by the group. The attack was the worst violence since June 8 when 13 local police were killed in a bomb explosion.
Four more people were killed including a police officer and one injured on Wednesday and Thursday in three separate attacks in eastern Algeria, according to newspaper reports in the capital Algiers.
To counter the violence, Bouteflika has also unveiled a national peace and reconciliation plan that will be put to a referendum on Sept. 29. The draft calls for “concrete steps to stop bloodshed and restore peace” in the North African country after 13 years of unrest while banning the “exploitation” of Islam for political purposes, Bouteflika has said.
