A period of amnesty for Islamist insurgents to surrender was due to expire yesterday, and Algeria's government made no move to extend the deadline, despite calls from some politicians for extra time to allow more militants to turn themselves in.
Algerians in a referendum last year overwhelmingly approved a six-month period of amnesty meant to reconcile the nation, which has been divided by more than a dozen years of violence that has led to the deaths of between 150,000 and 200,000 people, mostly civilians, according to official estimates.
The charter offered amnesty to insurgents who turned themselves and their weapons in to authorities by yesterday, so long as they had not taken part in massacres, bombings or rape.
It also allowed for the pardon of militants already convicted or charged. The government has released around 2,200 Islamist prisoners.
About 1,000 Islamic militants were believed to be fighting the Algerian state before the current amnesty took effect at the end of February, according to official estimates.
But the interior minister acknowledged on Sunday that only about 300 militants had laid down their arms since then.
Some political parties have deemed the amnesty ineffectual and said it should not be extended. Other parties have argued that militants should be given more time to turn themselves in.
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has thus far avoided the debate, but is rumored to be leaning toward extending the amnesty, though he has not taken any steps so far.
Victims' families have criticized the peace charter as a crude attempt to sweep unfinished business under the carpet by pardoning their loved ones' murderers.
The Algerian army is expected to step up efforts to flush militants out of their remote, hilly hideouts should the amnesty window close.
Insurgent attacks have increased as the deadline drew near, with several people killed each week. Militants have mainly targeted security forces, but have also killed civilians who they see as collaborating with officials.
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