Marani sparked the furor by telling reporters that the Front was setting stage for the landmark change

By Omima Ahmad, IOL Correspondent

ALGIERS, September 15 (IslamOnline.net) – A split is said to have hit the ranks of Algeria’s Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) following reports that the outlawed movement planned to mutate into a political party and change its name.

Defector Ahmad Marwani sparked the furor after he had told reporters that the Front was setting stage for the landmark change that could hit headlines following “some basic consultations among leaders”.

The reports were confirmed by FIS leaders, who only spoke under condition of anonymity.

They said the FIS is about to submit its credentials to the Ministry of Interior within weeks thanks to “good signals” from the government.

The initiative is a reminder of a similar one put forward by FIS leaders in mid 1990s, but was then turned down by the Algerian authorities.

The FIS came to light in 1989 in the wake of the 1988 constitutional amendments which allowed partisan plurality in the country.

The Front was recognized by the Algerian government in March 1989 and contested in the first free elections in the country after its independence and achieved a landslide victory in 853 municipalities out of 1539 and 32 states out of 48.

But it was banned in March 1992, two months after the army called off the second round of legislative elections which the FIS was poised to win.

Propaganda

FIS leaders, Madani, left, and Belhadji

On the other hand, FIS leader Abdul Kadir Bukhamkham vigorously denied the reports.

“It is a mere propaganda aimed to blemishing the FIS and casting doubts on its platform,” he told IslamOnline.net.

Abdel Kadir Bu Jumaa, a political analyst, believes there is a more conducive atmosphere for the FIS should it opt to adopt a moderate blueprint in line with the state and eschewed armed activities.

“The Front should also bring in some fresh blood and cast away the old guards,” he added.

“Authorities would not tolerate veteran leaders like Abbasi Madani or Ali Belhadji.

Furthermore, the lack of a unified leadership is an obstacle to FIS political aspirations.”

Algerian authorities have frequently asserted that it closed the issue of the FIS once and for all.

The Ministry of Interior has further put the Front under close scrutiny. It has already refused to license the Islamic-rooted Justice and Loyalty Movement because 80 percent of its members belonged to the FIS despite categorical denials.