Islamists Kill 13 Algerian Customs Officials

(Algiers, Algeria) Sources indicate that a convoy of Algerian customs officials was attacked by Islamist militants in the southern part of the country.

From Middle-East-Online.com:

Thirteen Algerian customs officials were killed and eight others injured Friday when their convoy was ambushed south of Algiers, security sources and the Algerian news agency APS reported.

A security source said the convoy of about 12 four-wheel-drive vehicles came under rocket attack by Islamist militants around 8:00 am (0700 GMT) at Ouardhia on a Saharan road to In Salah.

From ArabNews.com:

Algerian militants killed 13 customs agents in the North African oil producer's southern desert on Friday, a customs official said. The official, who declined to be identified, confirmed media reports yesterday that said the 13 were killed, and 10 wounded, in an ambush on a party of customs officials traveling in a convoy of all terrain vehicles 200 km from the country's biggest oil producing town of Hassi Messaoud.

One agent was also reported missing after the ambush in the southern province of Ghardaia, some 700 km southeast of the capital Algiers, state radio said.

Criminal and terrorist groups populate the southern desert of Algeria while maintaining cross-border smuggling networks throughout Africa's Sahel region. Exact responsibility for the ambush has not been established, however, it has been reported that the attackers were chanting "God is Greatest" during the ambush. I'm assuming that they weren't shouting in English. As such, it appears likely that Islamists are to blame.

Notably, the attack and murders come at a time concurrent with Algerian government officials patting themselves on the back for implementing a massive amnesty program. Called the Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation, it forgives seemingly every thug criminal and terrorist group of all offenses and includes the release of convicted prisoners. Consequently, it's conceivable that the Islamists who allegedly committed the ambush and murders on Friday were, at the same time, being forgiven for their acts.

Amnesty mandates an approved breakdown of law and order and it should be rarely granted. Unfortunately, it's become a popular tactic of government leaders to cover for administrative incompetence and lack of courage. Amnesty does not mean compassion and forgiveness as it is trumpeted. Amnesty means that leaders cannot follow constitutionally prescribed rules because it's just too hard.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.