Hassan Hattab, founder of Algeria's Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, left in 2003 after a dispute with the next leader Abdelmalek Droukdel over the legitimacy of targeting civilians.

Hattab surrendered to Algerian authorities in late September 2007 and since has made several calls for extremists to lay down arms.



Hattab, in the Algerian press, drew on a reglious texts to condemn terrorist attacks in Algeria.  In one of his statements, he wrote:

"What law or moral code could allow this?"

"Is this really a jihad that would please God?"


"[acts of terrorism] do nothing for Islam or Muslims and against which I have already given warnings in the past."

"return to society and your families; society is ready to welcome you and heal the wounds."