Five people were killed and one seriously wounded Wednesday in an attack by Islamic extremists in the village of Douadiche, 200 kilometres west of the capital Algiers, the APS news agency said.
Meanwhile, Algeria's army has been hunting a group of armed Islamic rebels hiding east of Algiers that is believed to count two al-Qaeda members among its ranks, a news report said Wednesday.
Le Matin newspaper said the army is hunting members of the radical Salafist Group for Call and Combat in Sidi Ali Bounab, in the Kabyle region. At least two foreign representatives of Osama bin Laden's network are believed to be among them, the daily said.
The two have had several meetings with a high-ranking member of the Salafist organization, a man identified as Hamid Saadaoui and known by the name of Abou El Haytham. Together, they were planning attacks against the Algerian state, according to the daily.
Le Matin added the death toll from Saturday's bloody ambush of elite troops had risen to 49 after several of the casualties died of their wounds. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
