Al-Qaeda Plotting Attacks in Western Algeria

(Algiers, Algeria) Abdel Malik Droukedel, head of the Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb, is reported to be planning suicide attacks during Ramadan on commercial targets in western Algeria.

Droukedel reportedly decided to change his strategy and relieve the pressure from central Algeria, recently the target of Al-Qaeda suicide attacks, to the western region to meet new objectives.

He reportedly decided to invest in these new attacks with the money from the ransom gained from the kidnap of several businessmen in Boumerdes and Tizi Ouzou, east of Algiers.

Meanwhile, the leader of Al-Qaeda in central Algeria has been identified as Hudheifa Abu Yunes al-Asimi, formerly of Algiers.

The information appears reliable since it came from an informer who deserted al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb.