Algeria attack 'claims 12 family members'

Reports from Algeria say twelve members of the same family have been killed in an attack some two-hundred kilometres west of Algiers.

Witnesses said the attackers used axes to kill their victims.

The dead in the raid north of Chlef included women and children.

The authorities blame such attacks on Islamic militants.

Correspondents say there have recently been a number of attacks in the area, which is near the stronghold of the rebel Armed Islamic Group. It's estimated that the latest incident brings the number of those killed in such violence this month to more than one-hundred and twenty.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service