Acts of violence in Algeria, court sentences 34 to death

Algerian armed groups on Tuesday night carried out a new attack in al-Shalaf province, 108 km from the capital Algiers, cutting the throats of six citizens and three others who were wounded.

A statement issued by the Algerian security authorities on Wednesday said the attack took place in Sedi al-Tawil village of Wad Sali municipality in al-Shalaf province. It added that the Algerian security forces immediately conducted a vast mopping-up operation in search of the killers.

Meanwhile, the criminal court in Teyart province sentenced to death in absentia 34 members of the Armed Islamic Group. The court also sentenced other 21 persons to between 3 and 21 years imprisonment under charges of setting up and supporting an armed group.

On Wednesday morning a bomb went off on the road linking al-Blida and al-Medea provinces when a passenger coach passed by. The explosion wounded 21 Algerian citizens, two seriously.