Reports from Algeria say that suspected Islamist militants have carried out a series of attacks in a region about one hundred kilometres west of the capital, Algiers.

Local newspapers say that in one of the attacks at Ain Nsour in the Khemis Meliana region, militants cut the throats of fifteen people during the attack.

Correspondents say it was the most serious attack since the start of Ramadan ten days ago -- normally a period during which islamist attacks are stepped up.

There are also reports of an attack by militants on the nearby town of el-Khemis in which home-made mortars were fired, wounding twenty people.

The shells were fired from surrounding mountains.

Eight soldiers were reportedly killed last week in the same region, which has been the scene of violent clashes between the army and Islamic militants.