Report: Qaida Official Killed in Algeria

The treasurer of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) was one of five Islamist militants killed by Algerian troops a clash this week east of the capital, a press report said Wednesday.

The French-language daily Liberte named him as Adel Bourai, alias Ayoub, aged 27, from the Boumerdes region where the Algerian army began a major sweep late last week.

The paper said the other four were all from the same region some 60 kilometers from Algiers and were aged between 28 and 35. It said they were killed as they were preparing to sail along the coast to Jiljel, 300 kilometers to the east, and a number of boats were also destroyed.

Elite army units backed by gunships started sweeping the Chouicha forest near Boumerdes to root out suspected members of AQIM, acting on information received, security sources said.

Boumerdes and the neighboring regions of Tizi Ouzou and Bouira -- where groups affiliated to AQIM are active -- are those most affected by a recent surge in violence.