Nine more killings in Algeria

The Algerian dailies said on Monday that nine civilians and armed Islamists were killed on Monday in attacks by the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) and in operations by the security forces in Algeria.

The Algerian dailies added that three shepherds were slaughtered in Shbeika near Djelfa, 300 km south of the capital, and stated that those were killed "in very brutal ways" and that the security forces found their bodies after families of the victims reported their being late in coming back home. A contingent belonging to the Armed Islamic Group led by Antar al-Zawabri is very active in the area.

Meanwhile, unidentified men attacked a 60 year-old merchant with a knife after they had attacked his house in Teibaza city in the far eastern part of the country.