A+ A-

Fifteen terrorists killed by Algerian military in July - PM

ALGERIA, Aug 28 (KUNA) -- Algerian Prime Minister Abdul-Aziz Belkhadem said Tuesday the government forces managed to neutralize 34 members of Al-Qaeda terrorist organization in July.
The Algerian military killed 15 terrorists and arrested 19 others, all belonging to Al-Qaeda Organization in Islamic Maghreb Countries, in July, Belkhadem told a press conference here.
During their ongoing anti-terrorism campaign, the security forces managed to seize 15 firearms, defuse 34 explosive charges, and destroy 22 hotbeds used by the terrorists in mountains, he pointed out.
Algeria is cooperating effectively with neighboring and European countries as well as the United States in the global war against terrorism, Belkhadem asserted.
Meanwhile, he ruled out the existence of any foreign military forces in his country, saying "Algeria can never accept any foreign military existence on its territories." The final tally of August is yet to complete, the prime minister said without specifying the number of former terrorists who surrendered to the Algerian security forces to benefit from the previously declared pardon.
An Algerian police source told KUNA the security forces killed 27 militants in August. (end) ft.gb KUNA 282317 Aug 07NNNN