Al-Qaida wooing Berber minority in Algeria

ALGIERS, Algeria, April 29 (UPI) -- The north African al-Qaida shifted its tactics to woo new recruits from the Berber community in Algeria, intelligence sources say.

Anonymous Algerian sources Tuesday quoted by Med Basin Newsline say al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb network, which seeks to overthrow the Algerian government and establish an Islamist state, shifted its methods of intimidation against the Berber minority in favor of urging Berbers to join its mission.

"We remind you that our jihad is in defense of the religion of the Muslim nation and its sanctities, and is (meant) to do away with the oppression that rules high-handedly over all the Muslims -- including our brothers the Kabyles," the network said in a statement referring to the Berber minority by a variant name.

Berber protesters took to the streets of Algeria April 20 to honor those killed during anti-government action and the sources told Med Basin Newsline al-Qaida network is seeking to exploit that sentiment.