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Djamel Zitouni
 Djamel Zitouni was born in Algeria in 1964. He grew up in the Capital Algiers and did not receive any special Islamic education. Djamel Zitouni was an agent of the Algerian secret service initially working in the section of possible infiltration of radical Islamists into the ranks of the Algerian army. When the Civil war in Algeria breached out in 1992 he switched sides and joined the Armed Islamic Group – GIA.
Djamel Zitouni succeeded Ahmed Abu Abdullah, the former head of GIA, after he was killed on 09/26/1994. Djamel Zitouni’s policy was to expend the war in Algeria to France since he believed that France was the source of power and legitimacy of the Algerian Regime.
Some commentators claimed that Djamel Zitouni was manipulated by the Algerian intelligence all the time to discriminate GIA by causing civilians casualties. Indeed, prior to Djamel Zitouni taking over, the GIA tried to limit civilian casualties in their many attacks. It is a speculation which does not coincide with the damage he caused to Algeria and to its relations with France.
Djamel Zitouni also attacked other Islamist militant groups, such as the rival Islamic Salvation Army (AIS).
On 03/26/1996, a group of armed men broke into a Trappist monastery in the remote mountain region of Tibhirine, Algeria, and kidnapped seven of the nine monks living there. They were held hostage for two months and then Djamel Zitouni, announces that they were all killed, on 05/21/1996.
A formed GIA chieftain Omar Chikhi claimed in an interview, on 07/13/2009, that Djamel Zitouni had sent at that time an emissary to the French Embassy in Algiers for negotiations on the Monks' affair.
Djamel Zitouni was assassinated by a rival Islamic group on 07/14/1996. He was replaced by Antar Zouabri.
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07/09/2009 06:56:09
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