Tuesday, Jan 29, 2013
(From THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 1/29/2013)
By Benoit Faucon and Leia Parker
Militants attacked guards protecting an Algerian natural-gas pipeline, killing and wounding several but failed to destroy the facility, an official with state-owned oil company Sonatrach said.
The Sunday assault occurred nearly two weeks after a much bigger attack by Islamist militants that left more than 60 people dead at the In Amenas gas plant in Algeria's southern Sahara, and the latest one struck far closer to the capital. The Sonatrach official said the guards were attacked in Djebahia, 77 miles southeast of Algiers in the Bouira region, part of the Kabylie mountain area -- al Qaeda's last stronghold in northern Algeria.
The official said three guards were killed. Media reports said up to seven were injured and that the attackers escaped. "They attacked with mortar, but it didn't hit the pipeline," the official said.
It wasn't clear whether the attackers in Djebahia were from al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, or whether they were aligned with Mokhtar Belmokhtar -- a one-eyed Algerian smuggler and a former top commander of the al Qaeda affiliate whose stronghold is in the Sahara -- or any other group.
AQIM didn't claim responsibility for the assault, though the group has directed low-level attacks in the region on other Algerian targets in recent years.
In a video message released to the Sahara Media website, Mr. Belmokhtar claimed responsibility for the attack on the In Amenas gas facility -- about 800 miles from Algiers. Experts said he founded his group late last year after falling out with AQIM. He said his brigade is an al Qaeda affiliate, but didn't mention AQIM. At least 37 expatriates, 29 militants and one Algerian security guard died at the In Amenas plant.
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Benoit Faucon and Leia Parker
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
29-01-13 0402GMT
