Algiers - At least 38 people, including 24 Muslim militants, were killed in the past two days in continuing violence in Algeria, torn by Islamic insurgency, newspapers reported yesterday.
Army troops backed by helicopter gunships and navy vessels attacked rebel hideouts in the mountains of Bordj Tahar, south of Jijel, 360 km east of Algiers, leading to the deaths of 19 "terrorists", El Watan newspaper said. In another army raid, five rebels were killed in Tigzirt, 70 km east of Algiers, the daily Liberte said.
The newspaper said Muslim fundamentalists ambushed a patrol of pro-government militiamen 40 km south of Jijel, killing nine of them. Five other soldiers were killed in Stamboul mountains, near Mascara, 360 km west of Algiers.