SARAJEVO, Jan 18 (Hina) - The US Embassy in Sarajevo on Friday confirmed six men from Algeria, suspected of being linked to terrorist actions in Bosnia-Herzegovina, were handed over to representatives of American authorities. We took
over the surveillance of these persons because we were concerned about their activities in Bosnia which represent a credible threat to the security of US personnel and facilities and were linked to terrorism, the US Embassy report read. According to the report, Algerians will be treated humanly while under surveillance of the US authorities. The extradition of six Algerians who were in the Central prison in Sarajevo took place in the early morning hours. At that time, around 100 radical Islam faithful gathered around the building trying to prevent the extradition. They came in conflict with police who were securing the extradition, but no serious consequences were reported as police did not u
SARAJEVO, Jan 18 (Hina) - The US Embassy in Sarajevo on Friday
confirmed six men from Algeria, suspected of being linked to
terrorist actions in Bosnia-Herzegovina, were handed over to
representatives of American authorities.
We took over the surveillance of these persons because we were
concerned about their activities in Bosnia which represent a
credible threat to the security of US personnel and facilities and
were linked to terrorism, the US Embassy report read. According to
the report, Algerians will be treated humanly while under
surveillance of the US authorities.
The extradition of six Algerians who were in the Central prison in
Sarajevo took place in the early morning hours. At that time, around
100 radical Islam faithful gathered around the building trying to
prevent the extradition. They came in conflict with police who were
securing the extradition, but no serious consequences were
reported as police did not use force.
The Bosnia-Herzegovina Federation Supreme Court released six men
Thursday as no evidence sufficient for trial, were found during a
three-month investigation against them.
All six men were arrested as members of a group which was preparing
attacks on US and British Embassies in Bosnia as a sign of
retribution for the US military intervention in Afghanistan. The
first suspect, Bensay Balkacem, was said to be directly connected
with Aba Zubeydah, a close affiliate of Osama Bin Laden, which is
allegedly supported by evidence in form of a taped telephone
conversation.
Despite a decision by the BH Human Rights Institution which
prohibited their expelling from the country, six Algerians were
nonetheless extradited. The European US Army base in Stuttgart
confirmed both US and BH believed the six men still represented a
terrorist threat.
The extradition to the American government needed to be observed in
light of the entire campaign against global terrorism which began
after September 11, 2001. "This action is a part of the overall
international efforts to remove terrorist organisations", the
statement read.
The Sarajevo daily "Slobodna Bosna" reported the BH government had
to make a simple choice: the US government asked for an
unconditional cooperation in a fight against terrorism, or Bosnia
would receive the same treatment as Sudan, Somalia or Iraq.
The treatment Algerians received is allegedly awaiting another 741
persons of Afro-Asian background who had obtained BH citizenship
under questionable circumstances. The judicial authorities and
police in Bosnia apparently started a thorough investigation aimed
at establishing who and why someone gave these persons Bosnian
citizenship.
(hina) np sb