Four Russians killed in Algeria

Reports from Algeria say that four Russian nationals have been found murdered in the north-eastern Annaba region, about six hundred kilometres from Algiers.

The security forces said the four -- who worked for a fertiliser company -- went missing after going to pick mushrooms in a forest on Sunday, prompting a search by the authorities.

Their bodies were discovered near their car with their throats cut.

It's not known who killed them.

Correspondents say that Islamist militants regularly attack Algerian civilians and security personnel as part of their campaign against the government, but have not targeted foreign nationals for a number of years. In 1996, seven French monks were killed, and the French Bishop of Oran died after a bomb attack.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service