A day of violence and hope for this 2nd day of August, 1997
Four days after the government sweep, the most hardline of Algeria’s insurgency movements, the Armed Islamic Group, appeared to retaliate with a raid on the small town of Larba, about 20 miles southwest of Algiers. In all, 51 people, including women and children, were killed. The attack was widely blamed on the Armed Islamic Group. But since the electricity had been cut in the town before the assault and the attack occurred close to an army barracks, there has been some speculation that it was the work of soldiers determined to show that Madani’s release had been a mistake and would only lead to increased violence. Meanwhile, Muslim guerrillas armed with swords and guns massacred more than 80 villagers in two attacks in hamlets south of Algiers Scores of rebels armed with guns and swords kitted 38 villagers in Ska el Madani hamlet in Bfida province overnight.
In other, more hopeful news – Rescuers eased aside dirt and rubble today to reach a man found alive nearly 2½ days after 20 people were buried by a landslide. “A miracle has occurred,” New South Wales Police Inspector Charlie Sanderson said after Stuart Diver was heard by rescuers about 54 hours after the landslide swept over a ski resort. A small hole had been driven through to Diver and drinking fluids were being sent to him, an ambulance worker said. He was expected to be freed from the wreckage today. The discovery raised hope that others may have survived.
The confirmed toll so far is one survivor, three bodies located and 16 people still missing. Hours earlier, police had warned relatives that there was no hope of finding anyone alive. After digging all night, rescuers “went ballistic” when sensitive sound monitoring equipment picked up noises from under a concrete slab, said police spokesman Mark Hargreaves.
Finally – Cambodian war refugees fled by the thousands into neighboring Thailand, escaping a rocket barrage by forces of coup leader Hun Sen. Rockets exploded within 300 yards of a refugee camp. In Phnom Penh, Hun Sen’s new government moved to consolidate his power, organizing a ‘mock political convention with the apparent intent of dividing the opposition and warning Asian neighbors to stay out of Cambodia’s affairs.
And that’s just a small sample of what happened, this August 2nd 1997 as presented by The BBC World Service Newsdesk.
