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| Africa: North |
| Three soldiers, 2 rebels killed in Algeria |
| 2005-05-19 |
| Three Algerian soldiers and two militants have been killed during an air and ground offensive by government forces against Islamic rebels in the mountains east of the capital, a security source said on Thursday. Members of al Qaeda-linked Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) ambushed an army unit late on Tuesday in the forests of Lakhdaria, some 100 km (60 miles) east of Algiers, the source, who declined to be named, told Reuters. Five soldiers were also wounded in the gunfight, which is reported to have lasted several hours. The authorities were not available for comment. They rarely comment on military setbacks in their war on militants. A massive military offensive was launched against rebel strongholds in Algeria's north after 12 soldiers were reported to have been killed on Sunday in an ambush on a military convoy near the town of Khenchela, 600 km east of Algiers. Some local newspapers have reported that 16 soldiers died in the attack. Backed by ground and air units, the army has bombarded rebel strongholds in recent days, killing more than a dozen rebels, confiscating arms and destroying a training camp. Security experts say GSPC, Algeria's main rebel group, has stepped up attacks in recent months to sabotage a general amnesty expected to be offered to rebels and members of the security forces this year. The government hopes an amnesty will end a conflict which has cost 150,000 to 200,000 lives and $30 billion in damage. "Pfui. We don' want no stinkin' amnesty. You can take yer ceasefire an' stick it where th' sun don' shine." Militants took up arms in 1992 |
| Posted by:Seafarious |