New massacre in Algeria

More than one-hundred people have been killed in another massacre in Algeria blamed on Islamic extremists -- this time close to the capital.

A statement from the security forces said another seventy people had been injured in the attack on the village of Sidi Hammed.

Many of the victims were women and children.

Survivors said the attack came shortly after nightfall as people began to relax after fasting for Ramadan.

It began when a bomb was thrown in to a video shop where people had gathered to watch a film.

The BBC Middle East correspondent says it was one of the worst massacres since violence intensified with the onset of Ramadan -- and also the closest to Algiers.

It came as an Arab League envoy was about to arrive to discuss the situation-- the first such mission since the current crisis began.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service