Thirteen killed in Algeria bus attack

Over 100 people have been killed this month

Reports from Algeria say that 13 people have been killed in an attack on a bus in a suburb of the capital, Algiers.

The state news agency APS quoted security sources as saying nine other passengers were injured when five suspected Islamic militants opened fire with machine guns in the suburb of Eucalyptus.

Eucalyptus is located near the airport in the Mitidja agricultural region, several kilometres from the capital.

Correspondents say militants of the Armed Islamic Group frequently operate in the area.

Waging war

The extremist group has been waging a war against Algeria's secular government since 1992.

The violence began when the authorities cancelled a parliamentary election which radical Islamists were poised to win.

More than 100,000 people have lost their lives in attacks since then.

At least 107 people have been killed this month, and more than 100 wounded, according to official and press figures.

Around 730 have been killed since the start of the year.