Reuters AlertNet Lite - Algerian rebels kill 7 policemen ambush

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

Algerian rebels kill 7 policemen ambush - papers

05 Mar 2007 10:14:38 GMT
Source: Reuters

ALGIERS, March 5 (Reuters) - Suspected Islamist militants killed seven policemen in Algeria in an ambush, local newspapers reported on Monday, the latest in a spate of bombings and ambushes.

The rebels exploded home-made bombs on two vehicles carrying policemen and then machine-gunned them, killing five policemen and wounding three others on Sunday in Tizi Ouzou province, some 100 km (60 miles) east of Algiers, the newspapers said.

Two more policemen died later from their wounds after being taken to hospital, El Watan, Le Soir d'Algerie and Le Quotidien d'Oran dailies added. At least two rebels were killled by government troops in a clash following the ambush, said El Watan.

Authorities were not immediately available for comment.

Seven bombs went off almost simultaneously in the same province on Feb. 13, killing six people.

Al Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb, previously known as Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), had claimed responsibility for the Feb. 13 bombings.

No rebel group has claimed responsibility for Sunday's attack, which came a day after three Algerians and a Russian were killed in a roadside bombing.

The violence broke out in Algeria in 1992 after the military-backed authorities, fearing an Iran-style revolution, scrapped a parliamentary election that an Islamist political party, the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), was set to win.

Up to 200,000 people were killed in the ensuing bloodshed. But rebel attacks have sharply fallen in recent years.

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• Algeria profile
· View map

MORE >>

Latest news

• Algerian rebels kill 7 policemen ambush - papers

• Four oil workers killed in Algeria bus attack

• Algeria says won't host a US base on its territory

• Q&A: Refugee sport programmes help regain lost childhood

• FACTBOX-Sarkozy spells out foreign policy objectives

MORE >>

Last updated:Mon Mar 5 10:15:15 2007