Three soldiers killed by Algeria bomb

Reports from Algeria say three soldiers have been killed in a bomb attack south of the capital, Algiers.

The bomb exploded late yesterday at an army bus stop in the town of Laghouat.

About thirty people were injured.

There have also been further clashes with Islamist rebels west of the capital, where the army is carrying out sweeps against suspected bases of the Armed Islamic Group.

Local press reports say eight rebels were killed on Friday in the Mascara region, three-hundred kilometres from Algiers.

Another nineteen died in an operation backed by helicopters at Ain Defla, nearer Algiers.

Army casualties were not given. Local analysts quoted by El Youm newspaper have suggested that the military offensive reflects a desire within the army to undermine President Bouteflika's efforts to build on last year's amnesty offer to remaining rebels.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service