Algerian Army Kills Militants After Ambushing Soldiers

The Algerian army announced Sunday killing three militants who were part of a "terrorist group" that had ambushed an army patrol in the northern province of Tizi Ouzou a day earlier.



"The area was cordoned off immediately after the attack [on the army patrol]," the Defense Ministry said in a statement on its website.



"The Operation led to the killing of three terrorists and the seizure of two Kalashnikov rifles," the ministry added, noting that the operation is still ongoing with the aim of killing other "terrorists".



The ministry denied an earlier report by the official news agency that 14 soldiers were killed in the ambush.



It insisted that 11 soldiers were killed and five others were wounded.



The ministry said the soldiers were ambushed on their way back from a mission to help secure Algeria's presidential elections, which took place on Thursday.



Provinces east of the capital Algiers are thought to be strongholds for militants associated with the Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb group.



Experts say that the group's leader, Abdelmalek Droukdel, otherwise known as Abu Musab Abdel Wadoud, is leading operations against security forces in the area.



The Algerian army said on Sunday that 37 "terrorists" have been killed in operations since January.



By Abderrazek Ben Abdullah



englishnews@aa.com.tr - Alger