Algeria hunted Islamic militants and gave them amnesty; neighboring Morocco jailed thousands of suspects. But new approaches may be needed in the face of the deadly dangers posed by al-Qaeda in North Africa.
Back-to-back bombings and suicide attacks in both countries over the past two days show that neither the iron fist nor the outstretched hand has neutralized the threat of Islamic terror in North Africa.
The Moroccan and Algerian governments avoided talking about an al-Qaeda link or inspiration in the bombings in Casablanca and Algiers on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.
Hallmarks of what has become al-Qaeda's way of spreading terror seemed evident in both attacks, and al-Qaeda's wing in North Africa claimed responsibility in a telephone call to Al-Jazeera television for the Algeria car bombings.
The blasts outside the Algerian prime minister's office and a police station east of the capital killed at least 24 people and wounded 222.
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