Algeria assault: Weapons came from Libya
2013-01-24 12:27
Algiers - The arms used by militants who seized an Algerian
gas plant in a deadly hostage-taking drama came from Libyan rebels who overthrew
Muammar Gaddafi in an uprising, an Algerian daily reported on Wednesday.
"The first interrogations of the three terrorist
captured by security services have revealed that rebels in Zintan [southwest
Libya] were behind the sale of the arms used against the gas plant," said
Echorouk.
Algeria has said 37 foreigners of eight different
nationalities and an Algerian were killed in the four-day siege, which ended on
Saturday in a rescue operation by security forces who captured three of the
assailants.
The militants' chief, Algerian Mohamed Lamine Bencheneb,
killed in the assault, negotiated the sale of Kalashnikov assault rifles for
$500 each and rockets priced at $800, according to Echorouk.
A well-informed source in Libya told AFP on Tuesday that the
militants received logistical aid from Islamists in the neighbouring country.
"Logistical support was provided from Libya," said
the source close to hardline Islamist groups in Libya, which has seen a rise in
extremism since the fall of Gaddafi.
The source did not specify the exact nature of the aid but
acknowledged that Libyan Islamists were also responsible for establishing
contacts between the captors and the media.
The Tunisian daily El Watan, meanwhile, reported that
"the operation was organised and prepared in Libya. Only some elements
came from northern Mali to reinforce the group".
Their heavy arms came from Libya "where tons of
weaponry were dropped by French aircraft during the uprising against Gaddafi,"
it said, quoting Tunisian security sources.
