Algeria: Trademark Attacks and a GSPC-Al Qaeda Blend

The militant group al Qaeda Organization for the Countries of the Arab Maghreb claimed responsibility March 5 for separate attacks in two different locations in Algeria. Among the targets were foreign oil workers and Algerian security forces, indicating a merger of the former Algerian militant organization the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) into the al Qaeda movement. So far, Algerian security and intelligence forces have not demonstrated an ability to prevent a revitalized GSPC from continuing its campaign.