A former Islamist repentant chief has been seriously wounded Tuesday at dawn in a bomb explosion claimed by a terrorist group, security services unveiled. The 55-year old Mr. Kartali was to ride his car when leaving the Mosque in El Arbaa in the eastern suburb of Algiers after accomplishing the first prayer in the daily ritual. The bomb exploded in his car, according to the same sources. The former repentant terrorist chief was transported to the nearest hospital in Al Harrach south east of Algiers.
To recall, Mustapha Kartali was the former mayor of El Arbaa, elected from the dissolved Islamic Salvation Front FIS, he joined the Islamic Salvation Army AIS, FIS armed wing after the diversion of the democratic process in 1992 and the cancellation of the legislative election won by FIS. He became the "Katibat Errahmane" Emir, i.e. a political-religious leader of "God Phalange". In 1999, he surrendered to the authorities and benefited from civil concord measures initiated by President Bouteflika.
Noteworthy, Kartali is the third former FIS repentant leader to be targeted by a murdering attack by al Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb terrorist organization that rejects the national reconciliation endeavor. |