Algeria hunts militants targeting foreigners-paper

ALGIERS, July 30 (Reuters) The Algerian army has begun closing in on around 100 members of al Qaeda's north Africa wing who it says are planning to attack and kidnap foreigners, a newspaper reported today.

The military was acting on information, provided by a militant who surrendered, that the rebels were preparing to assassinate and abduct foreigners working on an east-west highway project, independent daily El Khabar said.

The search began on Thursday in the provinces of Blida, Ain Defla and Medea southwest of the capital Algiers, the newspaper added, citing unnamed sources.

It said several explosions had been heard as the army bombed the area but there were no reports of casualties on either side.

The authorities have yet to comment on the operation, which coincided with a major counter-offensive by government forces further east in the troubled region of Kabylie.

The army has moved in on 60 members of the al Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb near Kabylie's main town of Tizi Ouzou since July 14 when militants attacked two police stations. Recent reports said around 20 militants were killed.

Interior Minister Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni was quoted by state radio today as saying the operations would continue ''until the annihilation of the terrorists''.

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, previously known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, has claimed responsibility for several attacks in recent months.

A suicide bomber killed eight government soldiers inside an army barracks in the neighbouring province of Bouira on July 11.

In April, a triple suicide attack killed 33 people in Algiers.

The group said last week it was planning a violent campaign against ''infidels'' and government forces in the Maghreb region and urged Muslims to stay away from possible targets.

Up to 200,000 people have been killed in Algeria since 1992 after military-backed authorities scrapped parliamentary elections that an Islamist party was poised to win.

REUTERS PD KP1902