On November 9, 2011, the Mauritanian news agency ANI published an interview with prominent Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) commander Mokhtar bin Muhammad Belmokhtar, also known as Khalid Abu Al-Abbas and by his nickname "Al-A'war"("the one-eyed"). Most of the interview focused on the AQIM-Mauritania connection.
The interview also provided information about the allegations that AQIM had obtained some of Libyan leader Mu'ammar Al-Qadhafi's weapons; about its presence among the Libyan rebels; about the power struggle among the AQIM commanders; about the accusations of AQIM involvement in criminal activities; and about the 2007 merger between AQIM and Al-Qaeda central....
The full text of this post is available to subscribers.
Please login or register to request subscription information from MEMRI
