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North African States Risk Being Overrun by Al-Qaeda
(Telegraph-UK) Praveen Swami - Al-Qaeda is poised to overrun five states in North Africa and the Middle East, creating terrorist safe havens from which the network can launch attacks on the West. Mauritania, Mali and Niger have seen a steady escalation of al-Qaeda activity targeting Western aid workers and experts. Somalia has disintegrated in the face of Islamist assault. In Yemen, security forces have been waging a losing battle against resurgent jihadist armies. Al-Qaeda's regional affiliates have expanded dramatically throughout this belt of states, exploiting the administrative weaknesses and corruption of their governments.