Gunmen kill 7 troops in Algeria

Five military men and two police men were killed in an ambush implanted by gunmen for a patrol of security forces to the east of the Algerian capital on Tuesday late evening. The ambush also resulted in wounding 13 members of the patrol.

The Algerian dailies issued yesterday said that a group of gunmen including 30 members detonated one explosive in the patrol near Bumerdas, situated 50 Km from the capital followed by intensive fire exchange in which bombs and mortars shelling and machine guns were used.

Sources close to the security forces said that the attackers -- who belong to al-Salafeyah for al-Dwa Wal Qital ( call and fighting ) -- dragged a security patrol to the ambush after they burnt a Cafe and then ambushed them near the place.

The press reports also indicated that the Algerian security forces retaliated to the fire sources which also resulted in several killings in the line of the attackers after which the gunmen withdrew to the mountainous woods in the area.

Worthy mentioning that "al-Salafeyah group for call and fighting" recently issued a statement in which it threatened to escalate and vowed to change its strategy and transfer its activity to the major cities especially the capital Algiers.

Several armed clashes took place between the security forces and the gunmen in the same area in August where these groups killed several persons including security forces members.

Since the beginning of 2004, some 240 persons were killed in acts of violence in Algeria, according to official and press sources.