The government believes there are still 300-500 armed Islamic rebels in the country, and many more who have fled to other countries (and comprise a large portion of al Qaeda's core members.) Scattered in small groups, either in remote camps, or hiding in urban areas, the remaining militants are largely reduced to banditry. Many of the remaining Islamic radicals want to surrender, but are reluctant because of the threat of assassination by Islamic radicals who are still into murder and violence. Many Islamic radicals who have fled Algeria, have done so to get out of the Islamic radical movement, and avoid fatal retribution for doing so. With the decline of the Islamic radical movement, the national police are now spending more time dealing with unrest over poor economic conditions, and government corruption.
