Suspected Muslim guerrillas cut the throats of 11 Algerian villagers, warning survivors to stay away from the October 23th voting for local authorities, Algerian newspapers said yesterday. Meanwhile, security forces have shot dead 17 guerrillas in three operations in the past three days in Algiers and in the western province of Mascara, according to reports in El Watan and La Tribune newspapers.
El Watan said eight hooded rebels cut the throats of seven villagers early on Sunday morning in Moulay Larbi hamlet in Saida province, 212 miles south-west of the capital, Algiers. Al Khabar said among the dead were a 70-yearold man, his 13-year-old grandson, and his 30-year-old son who was a candidate for the municipal poll.
Another four family members had their throats cut in a rebel attack early on Saturday in the Medea region, 45 miles south of Algiers, said Al Khabar, adding that the four bodies were set alight.
Suspected rebels erected a roadblock on Friday in Beni Slimane and Berrouaghia villages in Medea and set ablaze several vehicles, including one with 12 passengers inside, said Al Khabar. It did not say if the 12 survived.
A bomb exploded on Sunday in the Errais area, near Algiers, killing one person, the newspaper said without giving further details.