March 10 (Reuters) - Al Qaeda's North Africa wing said on Monday it was holding two Austrian tourists it had abducted in Tunisia on Feb. 22, linking its action to an Israeli offensive in Gaza.

Here are some key facts on the group, which is based in Algeria and was formerly known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC).

* In late January 2007 the group changed its name from the GSPC to Al Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb after gaining the approval of Osama bin Laden.

* The GSPC, as it was known by its French acronym, aimed to establish an Islamic state within OPEC-member Algeria and targeted Westerners.

* Founded in 1998, it eclipsed the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) to become the most effective remaining armed group in Algeria. In October 2003, the group offered its support to the al Qaeda network.

* GSPC's strength was thought to be about 500. It is not clear how many of its members have joined Al Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb.

* In 2003 the GSPC kidnapped 32 European tourists in the Sahara. All were freed apart from one who died of heatstroke.

* In April 2007, 33 people were killed in Algiers in a triple suicide bombing. Al Qaeda's North Africa wing also said it was behind suicide bombings in Dellys town, east of Algiers, on Sept. 8 and a suicide blast in the southeastern town of Batna on Sept. 6 that killed 57 people. The bomb in Batna had targeted President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

* On Dec 11 2007, a twin suicide bombing claimed by al Qaeda at U.N. offices and a court building in Algiers killed at least 41 people.

Sources: Reuters, Jane's World Insurgency and Terrorism, FAS - Federation of American Scientists, Global Security. (For full story please click on [nL10609887]) (Writing by David Cutler, London Editorial Reference Unit; Editing by William Maclean)

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