US embassy cable - 05ALGIERS1554

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 001554 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PREL, AG, IZ 
SUBJECT: GSPC STATEMENT OF CONGRATULATIONS ON THE ABDUCTION 
OF ALGERIAN DIPLOMATS IN IRAQ 
 
REF: A. ALGIERS 1538 
     B. ALGIERS 1539 
     C. FBIS EUP20050724116003 
 
Classified By: Classified By: CDA MARC J. SIEVERS, 
for reasons 1.4 (b) (d). 
 
1. (U)  The Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), 
an Algerian terrorist group with links to al-Qaida, published 
July 23 a statement congratulating Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and 
Al-Qaida in Iraq on the recent kidnapping in Iraq of two 
Algerian diplomats.  The text of the statement is as follows: 
 "The mujahidin in Algeria have received with great joy and 
pleasure the news of the kidnapping of the two Algerian 
diplomats (Ali Belaroussi and Azzedine Belkadi) from their 
brothers in the Al-Qa'idah of Jihad Organization in the Land 
of the Two Rivers.  The apostate Algerian regime has always 
tried to cover its collaboration and support for the 
Crusaders in Iraq, and has tried to show its support for the 
Iraqi people while at the same time stabbing them in the back 
and supporting the apostate government in Iraq and the 
Crusader coalition in their fight against the mujahidin and 
the desecration of the Islamic nation's holy places." 
 
2. (U)  The statement continued: "On this joyous occasion, 
the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) would like 
to extend its blessings and warmest congratulations to its 
brothers, the brave mujahidin of the Al-Qa'ida of Jihad 
Organization in the Land of the Two Rivers, and would like to 
say to them:  Bless you our brothers in arms, the beacons of 
honor in this era of decadence.  God bless those pure hands 
which insisted on avenging Muslim blood and honor, and on 
punishing the worshippers of the cross and their supporters 
for their crimes against our nation and religion." 
 
COMMENT 
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3. (C)  Algerian contacts have expressed outrage to us at the 
GSPC's gleeful statement in support of the kidnapping of the 
two diplomats.  The GSPC's public support of Zarqawi's group 
may lead Algerians to link their own internal war on 
terrorism with Zarqawi's actions in Iraq. 
 
SIEVERS