Leader of Algerian Group Vows Obedience to bin Laden in New Video

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January 10, 2007 4:01 PM

The leader of an Algerian terrorist group hinted in a new video posted on the Internet that his group would follow al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's instructions if asked to fight outside of Algeria.

"Place us wherever you want. You will find us to be obedient," says Abu Musaab Abdul Wadud in the 22-minute video entitled "We Are Coming." 

The Algerian Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC) joined al Qaeda in 2006 and pledged allegiance to bin Laden, as announced in a video by al Zawahri and later confirmed by the group itself.

"Our brothers will be a thorn in the necks of the American and French crusaders and their allies, and a dagger in the hearts of the French traitors and apostates," Zawahri said of the Algerian group in his video on the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Analysts believe the move was a sign the Algerian organization was going global.  According to  intelligence experts, the Algerian group is suspected of having cells throughout Europe. In addition, it is known to run terrorist training camps in North Africa, a draw for Tunisians, Libyans, Moroccans and Mauritanians. Counterterrorism officials and analysts told "The Washington Post" veterans from those training camps have become one of the largest foreign contingents fighting U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq.   

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In the new video, Abdul Wadud, whose real name is Abdul Malik Drukdal, updates bin Laden on the situation in Algeria and assures him that his group is fighting according to a set plan.

He also warns Algerian President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika against relying on the U.S. and other Western countries like France as allies, saying that they will eventually abandon him. "Bouteflika, you have to know, along with your assistants the generals and your masters the crusaders, that we are coming...We are coming in spite of our deep wounds...and in spite of our expulsion and our casualties."

Abdul Wadud congratulates the "heroes" in Iraq and acknowledges the establishment of "the Islamic State in al Anbar." He also expresses support for the Islamic Courts in Somalia and claims the U.S. is losing in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Finally, Abdul Wadud tries to incite Algerian Muslims to join the fight against the government. "Our issue is your issue, our victory would be your victory and our defeat -- God forbid -- would be your defeat."

The video is dated Jan. 3.  It was shot in daylight and appears similar to the ones issues by bin Laden and al Qaeda's No. 2 Ayman al Zawahri. It shows Abdul Wadud sitting in front of a green cloth with a weapon by his side. Abdul Wadud however is reading from a paper.

The new video signals that while fighting their own battles, militant Islamist groups in different parts of the world are coming together and addressing the same issues, which at the time are focused on recognition of the Islamic State of Iraq and the conflict in Somalia.