Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume XXIV, North Africa

162. Telegram From the Embassy in Algeria to the Department of State¹

6003.

Algiers, November 29, 1986, 1145Z

SUBJECT

• Abu Nidal.

1. Secret entire text.

2. Ambassador raised continuing saga of Abu Nidal with Presidential Advisor Larbi Belkheir November 26. Ambassador noted that U.S. and Algerian experts on Abu Nidal had held first session this past week and that U.S. side had not felt that the Algerians had been as forthcoming as they might have been.² Ambassador acknowledged that Algerians had handed over a list of over 200 Abu Nidal operatives but, he noted, to be useful such a list must be accompanied by much more information.

3. Ambassador also noted that, as had been predicted by Military Intelligence Chief General Lakehal Ayat,³ some elements suspiciously close to Abu Nidal had opened an office in downtown Algiers. Belkheir expressed surprise, saying that the GOA would never allow an Abu Nidal office in Algeria. Ambassador provided address of office, noting that we had no evidence linking it to any specific act of terrorism but pointing out that any office operated by a man who claimed to be a sympathizer of Abu Nidal exposed the Government of Algeria to both danger and criticism.

4. Belkheir said he would look into matter and get back.

5. Comment: We have been picking up stories, in the rumor mill of the opening of an Abu Nidal office in Algiers. This is the same office previously reported to be at the university. Intelligence Chief Lakehal Ayat had told us about two months ago that the university office was run by a man who had sympathy for Abu Nidal but who was not an active member of the group and certainly not engaged in any terrorist acts. He had said at the time that the university office was closing and that the sympathizer would be moving downtown. We are certainly not satisfied with this response but neither are we persuaded that the rumors being spun out by the local PLO office on the Abu Nidal presence in Algiers have much credibility. We will continue to press issue with GOA in the context of our “cooperation program” on Abu Nidal.

Johnstone

1. Source: Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, [less than 1 line not declassified], 1986–88, Tunis. Secret; Priority; [handling restriction not declassified].
2. No record of the talks was found.
3. No record of Ayat’s prediction was found.