Army clashes with Islamists

Algiers - Fierce clashes took place yesterday in the centre of Algiers between security forces and a group of Islamic militants, eyewitnesses said. Residents of the working class neighbourhood of Belcourt said four "terrorists" had been killed and several policemen wounded. Earlier yesterday, two bombs went off in Algiers and at Zeralda about 20 km to the west, killing at least four people and leaving more than 50 injured. The attacks came as an EU mission was winding up a brief visit to discuss the fight against terrorism.