An average of more than 30 people was murdered every day last week in Algeria, reviving fears that the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan would herald a terrifying new phase of bloodletting.
Press reports put the death toll for the past week at 248, and yesterday's newspapers alone counted 39 killed in attacks blamed on Islamic extremists.
Twenty-five villagers, including two women and six children, had their throats cut at Safsaf, a village near Mascara, 400 km south-west of the capital, the reports said.
An Islamic commando attacked the mosque during evening prayers and hacked 14 worshippers to death, also seriously injuring the imam. They then set upon homes in the villages, breaking down doors and killing 11 more.
Nine died at Oued-Sly near Chlef, 200 km south-west of Algiers, as well as a woman and her two children at Hassi Bahbah, 200 km south of the capital.
All of the attacks took place overnight on Saturday.
Ramadan, a lunar month of fasting that celebrates sacrifices and commemorates the battles of the Prophet Muhammad, is considered by armed Islamists as propitious to jihad, or holy war. Tomorrow, New Year's Eve, marks the beginning of Ramadan in Algeria this year.
A rare flash of good news came in a report that six shepherds abducted near Tlemcen by an extremist group last week had been released and were well. But that was the exception in a week of horrors.
On Friday night, 21 civilians, including seven children, were hacked to death in Ouled Moussa, 80 km south of Algiers.