Algiers - Algerian soldiers killed 23 Muslim rebels sought for the massacre of 20 civilians last month, Liberte newspaper reported yesterday. "The operation against the perpetrators of El Bayadh's massacre ended on Monday. 23 rebels were killed in that operation," Liberte said, quoting security officials.
The dead guerrillas were suspected of killing 20 relatives of shepherds on February 27th, in the worst massacre of civilians this year in Algeria, it said. The massacre took place in el Hrief Oum Elchiem village in El Bayadh region, about 400 km south of Algiers.