Reuters AlertNet Lite - Al Qaeda claims deadly attack in Algeria

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

Al Qaeda claims deadly attack in Algeria - web

01 Aug 2009 20:34:45 GMT
Source: Reuters

DUBAI, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Al Qaeda's north African wing said on Saturday its fighters were behind an attack in Algeria earlier this week in which several soldiers were killed.

Algeria, the world's fourth largest exporter of natural gas and eighth biggest oil exporter, has for nearly two decades been fighting an insurgency by Islamist militants, who in the past few years have been affiliated to al Qaeda.

"The mujahideen attacked them at 11.30 a.m. like a lion on a prey and they, with God grace, killed no less than 15 of them and wounded several others," Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb said in a statement posted on an Islamist website.

Algerian newspapers said on Wednesday that at least 14 Algerian soldiers had been killed in an insurgent ambush.

The group said its militants ambushed the soldiers' convoy of three vehicles and seized nine assault rifles and ammunitions.

The violence has subsided significantly since the 1990s, when the conflict killed 200,000 people, according to estimates by non-governmental groups. But the militants remain a threat, staging periodic bombings and ambushes.

The past two months have seen an upsurge in the violence. Insurgents killed 18 paramilitary police officers and one civilian, according to officials, in an ambush in the east of Algeria in June. That was the deadliest attack in nearly a year.

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

NGO latest

• Climate Change & Health
Health Unlimited

• Mali: Red Cross aid for migrants in distress
ICRC - Switzerland

• Children at risk in disasters still being ignored, says report
Plan UK

• As Millions Flee Conflicts, Women's Refugee Commission Urges New Focus on Livelihoods for the Displaced
Women's Commission - USA

MORE >>

Latest news

• Al Qaeda claims deadly attack in Algeria - web

• Stress, trauma, stigma stalk ex-Guantanamo inmates

• TIMELINE-Major insurgent attacks in Algeria

• Algeria insurgents kill at least 14 troops - media

• Algeria insurgents kill at least 14 troops - media

MORE >>

AlertNet news is provided by