Algerian army not confirming or denying killing of Abu Turab

Algerian news reports on Tuesday talked about the killing of the new leader of the armed Islamic group Rasheed Abu Turab. An event that if true, is considered a tough blow for the group whose former leader Antar al-Zawabri was also killed in February.

The Algerian dailies did not talk decisively about the killing of Rasheed Abu Turab. The Algerian daily Le Expression quoted security sources as saying that joint forces from the army and the police last Sunday killed 15 Islamists, Rasheed Abu Turab might be among them. No confirmation or denial was issued for this news from a security source, according to the papers which indicated that an official statement will be issued on Abu Turab's killing, if the military authorities will make sure of his identity, as investigations on the corpses of those Islamists are being made at the headquarters of the first military area in al-Bleida.

An official in the Algerian army said that the military establishment "can not currently deny or confirm the killing of Rasheed Abu Turab," noting that "he has no comment now " on the news stated by certain papers on his killing.

Abu Turab has replaced al-Zawabri who was killed on February 8 at the hands of the security forces in Bufarik, to the south of the capital Algiers.