2 Army officers and gunmen killed in Algeria

Two Algerian army officers were killed as an explosive device blasted detonated which was targeting their vehicle in the city of Boumerdes (about 70 kilometres north of Algiers). A security source informed Arabstoday that the explosive device was planted in the middle of the road, and was detonated by elements from al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb,using remote control technology, causing the instant death of the two officers. Army forces later proceeded with combing operations, in order to trace the terrorist groups which are active in this area. The same sources said that a counter-terrorism unit, belonging to the Algerian special forces was able to kill two gunmen on Thursday in the Bouira province, during a major joint combing operation.