Intensive fighting in Algerian Merzana jungle

More than 300 Algerian soldiers are engaged in a campaign against extremist Islamists hiding in jungles east of the Algerian capital.

Governmental sources told ArabicNews.com that Algerian security forces captured an extremist who said that tens of rebels carrying guns are hiding in Merzana jungle, 80 km of the east of the capital.

The sources added that those people are associated with the Armed Islamic Group in Algeria, confirming that the government forces supported by helicopters and fighters killed yesterday at least 45 of the group's members in the jungle itself.

They added that four persons were killed when an armed group opened fire on a bus in a region 350 km southwest of Algeria, causing the bus to leave the road and collide with a tree.