43 gunmen killed in Algiers, as UN prepares to visit

The Algerian daily Sawt al-Ahrar reported that confrontations between Algerian security forces and Armed Islamic Group (GIA) factions in Telmeisan mountains resulted in the killing of more than 43 members of the GIA.

The paper added that three citizens were slaughtered on Friday and three girls from one family were kidnapped from one family in Awlad Omar villages in Medea province. The GIA also destroyed a water reservoir in Dawa Thabet in Saeeda province.

Meanwhile, former Portuguese President Mario Soares, who is also chairman of the UN delegation to Algeria, said that the task of the UN mission which will visit Algeria under his leadership is information gathering. In a statement to the Algerian daily Sawt al-Ahrar published yesterday, Soares added that the aim of the visit is to get to know about the heart of the matters in Algeria and to acquaint the international community with these facts.

He stressed that he does not doubt Algeria's credibility, adding that he views with great respect its numerous successes in building democracy and party pluralism so as to build the new democratic society, where law has its say.