Algerian army kill two senior Al-Qaeda militants

ALGIERS, Dec 25 (KUNA) -- Algerian forces killed two senior militants in Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) east of the capital on Friday, the defense ministry said.
Army forces ambushed an armed group and killed two AQIM militants in Azfoun in Tizi Ouzou state, 120 kms east of Algiers, the ministry added in a statement.
One of those militants has been active with armed groups since 1994, while the other was leading an armed cell that is active in the tribal areas, it said.
Two Kalashkinov machineguns were seized by the forces.
Meanwhile, army forces destroyed 12 hideouts used by "terrorist groups" 460 kms east of the country. (end) ft.bs