Clashes in Algeria, 9 soldiers, 4 rebels dead

Algiers, Apr 9: Nine soldiers and at least four Islamist rebels were killed in a clash between Algerian government troops and militants seeking to set up an Islamic state, newspapers reported today.

Liberte and EL Watan said five troops were also wounded when militants believed to belong to the al Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb, ambushed a military patrol late on Saturday in the southwestern province of Ain Defla, some 150 km from the capital Algiers.

Four rebels at least were killed in a clash that followed the attack by the group, previously known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), which adopted the new name in January to deepen ties to al Qaeda.

The authorities were not immediately available for comment.

Government troops, backed by helicopters, were searching for the attackers estimated at 50 militants, Liberte said.

Three Algerians and a Russian were killed recently in the area when rebels attacked a bus carrying oil workers. Founded in 1998, the GSPC began as an offshoot of another armed group that was waging an armed revolt against the government to establish an Islamic state.

The GSPC shared the overall aims of that revolt, which began in 1992 after the then military-backed authorities, fearing an Iran-style revolution, scrapped a parliamentary election that an Islamist political party was set to win.

Up to 200,000 people have been killed in the ensuing bloodshed.

Reuters