ALGERIA: 2 GSPC MEMBERS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION

a criminal court in Tizi Ouzou, 100 km east of Algiers in Algeria, sentenced two men to death in absentia. Hassan Hattab, the founder of the salafist group for preaching and combat- GSPC, and his accomplice, Mohamed Bilam, were convicted on charges of attempting to assassinate retired Algerian Army General Kamel Abderrahim. On March 12^th, 1993, the two allegedly fired bullets into Abderrahim’s car outside his medical manufacturing facility in Rouiba on the eastern outskirsts of Algiers. Abderrahim was seriously wounded, however he was rushed to Ain Naadja hospital and survived the attack. The two accused were recognised by a man guarding the access gate of the Rouiba facility. Hassan Hattab, alias Abou Hamza, is reported to have surrendered last month to the security services in the hope of benefiting from the provisions of the national charter for peace and national reconciliation.