Mokhtar Belmokhtar back in favour with AQIM

Infact both Algeria and the USA refused to negotiate. Belmokhtar appears as a full member of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb with whom he is apparently now reconciled having parted with them to form his own qatiba. He says that : " Al Qaeda is are responsible for this operation which we bless. "He also calls for the imposition of sharia to be respected in Nothern Mali.

He says that the attack at In Amenas was carried out by 40 jihadis drawn from different countries  including from western countries. The Algerian Minister of Communication Mohamed Said identified terrorists from Tunsia,
Egypt,Libya,Africa and a Canadian who spoke perfect English.

Belmokhtar aslo tried to negotiate for the release of Sheikh Omar Abderrahman from prison in America and his return to Egypt .He appeared in the video  without his customary turban beside the  black flag of his qatiba. Whilst he claimed that the attack was mounted to counter France's intervention in Mali the preparations for the attack had been going on for two months according to reports and involved infiltrating some Al Qaeda members into the staff on the In Amenas base. Hostages testified that the terrorists had a good knowledge of the layout of the base and its installations.