Amnesty Ends But Door Left Open

While the amnesty for national reconciliation expired on August 31, Interior Minister Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni has stated that the authorities will be open to rebels who decide to surrender, regardless of the fact there has been no formal extension of the amnesty period. According to the minister, around 250-300 militants have surrendered during the six-month long amnesty that came into force on February 28. Previously, the authorities estimated that around 800 militants were active in the country. The militants belong largely to the Groupe Salafiste pour la Prédication et le Combat (GSPC, Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat), a group

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