AQIM Long Sought Strike In Algeria

CAIRO [MENL] -- Western intelligence agencies have determined that Al Qaida
long sought to attack Algeria's leading natural gas facility.
Officials said NATO intelligence services have concluded that Al Qaida
Organization in the Islamic Maghreb was planning to strike Algeria's Ein
Amenas liquefied natural gas plant since at least the fall of 2012. They
said AQIM's statement that the attack was in response to French air strikes
on neighboring Mali was a pretext.