Posted on 05/03/2004 11:25:22 PM PDT by ambrose
03 May 2004 12:09:27 GMT
Algerian Islamic rebels kill mother, 2 children
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ALGIERS, May 3 (Reuters) - Algerian Islamic militants killed a mother and her two children in western Algeria, state radio said on Monday, as violence in the north African country escalated amid talk of a large-scale rebel surrender.
The family's father survived the attack in a village near Relizane, 250 km (160 miles) west of the capital Algiers, in the early hours of Sunday. He suffered unspecified bullet wounds.
The rebels set fire to the family's home after the mother and her children, aged five and nine, were stabbed to death with a knife, the daily El Watan said.
More than a dozen civilians and officials have been killed in separate attacks over the past few days, bringing the death toll to nearly 50 since the start of April, according to media and official reports.
Political analysts said the escalation in violence was linked to the reported surrender negotiations, as the rebel leadership resisted alleged moves by several hundred Islamic militants seeking amnesty. Authorities have declined to comment on the talks.
Nabil Sahraoui, leader of Algeria's largest militant organisation, the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), denied surrender talks were taking place and called for further attacks, according to a recent published statement.
Reuters could not verify the statement's authenticity.
More than 150,000 people, mostly civilians, have died in Algeria since an Islamic uprising began in 1992 after cancellation of legislative elections a radical Islamic party was set to win.
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