WASHINGTON [MENL] -- Sunni insurgents have been leaving Iraq for North Africa.

U.S. officials said that over the last year an increasing number of Sunni insurgents have been leaving Iraq for countries such as Algeria, Mauritania and Morocco. They said the insurgents have been joining Al Qaida-aligned insurgency cells in North Africa.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Thomas Csrnko, the commander of Special Operations Command Europe, said African nationals have also been leaving Afghanistan for their native countries. Csrnko said the migration has concerned U.S. officials. Officials said Al Qaida and aligned groups have also sought to relocate in the Sahara region to establish training areas and logistics bases. They said these groups were fleeing a crackdown by authorities in the Middle East and Central Asia.