Bomb kills two, Algerian forces kill 9 rebels

A bomb killed two girls south of Algiers as bereaved villagers in a nearby hamlet buried some 50 relatives slaughtered by "Moslem" rebels, an Algerian newspaper said on July 30.

The homemade bomb exploded by a house near Chrea, about 50 km south of Algiers, killing the two girls, aged 10 and 12, on July 29 said Al Watan newspaper.

The same day, survivors of a massacre in neighboring Si Zerrouk hamlet buried some 50 relatives killed by about 100 rebels on Sunday, the newspaper said.

The assailants broke into the villagers' homes and cut the throats of the residents, including women and babies, newspaper said.

Earlier this month, FIS chief Abassi Madaniwa was freed half way through a 12 year term. He vowed shortly after his release that he and his supporters would strive to stop the bloodshed.

According to the newspapers, the rebels belonged to cells of the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) who had gathered to plot strategy when they were trapped. Algerian officials blame the GIA for most of the massacres of civilians in isolated villages.

L’Authentique newspaper on July 30 said security forces killed eight rebels, including a cell leader named Abu Meriem, in a Monday-Tuesday operation in Ksarel Boukhari, 90 km southeast of Algiers.