Attack in western Algeria

Reports from Algeria say seven people have been killed in an attack by Islamic militants in the west of the country.

The attack is said to have happened at a road-block set up by the gunmen near Ain Kechra in the Skikda region, 500 km west of the capital, Algiers.

Another five people are reported to have been kidnapped at the scene.

More than 50 people have been killed this month in similar attacks, which the Algerian government has blamed on the hardline Armed Islamic Group (GIA) and another smaller militant organisation, the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat.

Both groups are fighting for an Islamist government in Algeria.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service