Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb claimed an attack in western Niger
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WASHINGTON - Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has claimed an attack Friday against a military outpost in western Niger, which killed at least eight people Monday, said U.S. center monitoring Islamist websites SITE.
- "Although our offensive is the crusader alliance and its interests in the region and we do not want to antagonize the army of Niger, we can not sit idly before the attacks perpetrated against the mujahideen under cover of « war against terrorism, » said AQMI in a message posted on the network for Internet distribution Al Fajr, according to SITE.
The attack occurred early Monday morning against the military post of Tilwa (Tillabéri region), on the border with Mali, where the Tuareg rebellion in Niger is present and where AQIM operates regularly.
According to the spokesman of the Nigerian government Laouali dandah, five soldiers were killed and three assailants. Always according to dandah, the assailants, whose vehicle was destroyed, also burned an army vehicle and took away another one.
But in the message which AQIM SITE echoes, the organization said they had killed "not less than 25 soldiers" and burned three vehicles of "enemies". AQIM also claims to have "completely destroyed" facilities.
In January, seven soldiers and their civilian guide were killed in an attack by heavily armed men against the Tlemss village in the Tahoua region of Niger, also near the border with Mali.
A year earlier, in January 2009, four European tourists (two Swiss, a German and a British) had been abducted in this region.
AQIM, who had claimed the kidnapping announced in June to have killed the British tourist, while three other hostages were freed. - Ennaharonline/ M. O.
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