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| Gas plant raid puts spotlight on Algerian military | Gas plant raid puts spotlight on Algerian military |
| (10 days later) | |
| Though it may be some time before anyone can confirm the exact details of Thursday's operation to free the gas plant hostages, military experts say the Algerian forces have a reputation for acting swiftly and ruthlessly. | Though it may be some time before anyone can confirm the exact details of Thursday's operation to free the gas plant hostages, military experts say the Algerian forces have a reputation for acting swiftly and ruthlessly. |
| Trained by the French and equipped with some Russian equipment, the Algerian military's skills have been honed by years of counter-insurgency fighting. | Trained by the French and equipped with some Russian equipment, the Algerian military's skills have been honed by years of counter-insurgency fighting. |
| The country has a standing army of 35,000, and a much smaller, but reasonably capable, navy and air force, that includes 33 attack helicopters. The army has an extra 75,000 conscripts, and there is a near 200,000-strong paramilitary police force. | The country has a standing army of 35,000, and a much smaller, but reasonably capable, navy and air force, that includes 33 attack helicopters. The army has an extra 75,000 conscripts, and there is a near 200,000-strong paramilitary police force. |
| The military also has an elite special forces unit, the Special Intervention Group, which has undergone joint training with the US, the UK and Belgium. | The military also has an elite special forces unit, the Special Intervention Group, which has undergone joint training with the US, the UK and Belgium. |
| Whichever service was involved in the raid, they share the same modus operandi. "They are tough and professional," said one officer who has worked alongside them. "Much more impressive than the Libyan forces." | Whichever service was involved in the raid, they share the same modus operandi. "They are tough and professional," said one officer who has worked alongside them. "Much more impressive than the Libyan forces." |
| Second guessing the decision-making process from afar is almost impossible, but after apparently having failed to free everyone, and with some hostages dead and others still in custody, the Algerian forces are likely to find themselves under the international microscope. The governments of those who have been killed will want to know why the Algerians reacted in the way they did. According to the Associated Press, two of those released have asked for the Algerian army to withdraw from the scene. | Second guessing the decision-making process from afar is almost impossible, but after apparently having failed to free everyone, and with some hostages dead and others still in custody, the Algerian forces are likely to find themselves under the international microscope. The governments of those who have been killed will want to know why the Algerians reacted in the way they did. According to the Associated Press, two of those released have asked for the Algerian army to withdraw from the scene. |
| "We are receiving care and good treatment from the kidnappers," a British man was said to have told Al-Jazeera. "The [Algerian] army did not withdraw and they are firing at the camp. There are around 150 Algerian hostages. We say to everybody that negotiations is a sign of strength and will spare many any loss of life." | "We are receiving care and good treatment from the kidnappers," a British man was said to have told Al-Jazeera. "The [Algerian] army did not withdraw and they are firing at the camp. There are around 150 Algerian hostages. We say to everybody that negotiations is a sign of strength and will spare many any loss of life." |
| In a confused and tense situation, with a hard-nosed military facing up to a ruthless enemy it knows well, and with the world watching, events now seem to be unravelling with their own momentum. | In a confused and tense situation, with a hard-nosed military facing up to a ruthless enemy it knows well, and with the world watching, events now seem to be unravelling with their own momentum. |
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