Argentina President Cristina Kirchner held talks with her Algerian counterpart Sunday during a two-day visit aimed at bolstering trade and which is part of a tour of northern Africa.

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika welcomed Kirchner when she arrived in the late morning before the face-to-face talks that preceded discussions between the two country`s delegations.

ALGIERS, Nov 17, 2007 (AFP) - A gas explosion in an old house in eastern Algeria killed six people and injured another eight Saturday, emergency services said.

The blast levelled the two-storey building in an old quarter of Annaba, 600 kilometres (375 miles) east of Algiers, killing two women, one of them pregnant, a man and three children.

One of the eight injured was in serious condition, the emergency services added.

MADRID, Oct 21, 2007 (AFP) - One of the alleged masterminds of the 2004 Madrid train bombings which killed 191 people, has died in Iraq while fighting US-led coalition forces, a Spanish daily said Sunday.

Spain was informed several months ago of Daoud Ouhnane's death in Iraq in October or November 2006 by foreign intelligence agencies, El Pais newspaper said, quoting a confidential police report.

ALGIERS, Oct 20, 2007 (AFP) - France handed over to Algeria Saturday details of where its forces laid millions of landmines on the country's eastern and western borders half-a-century ago, the French embassy in Algiers said.

'General Jean-Louis Georgelin, chief of the armed forces general staff, officially delivered to his Algerian counterpart, Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaid Salah, the plans of minefields laid ... by the French army between 1956 and 1959,' an embassy statement said.

BAMAKO, Oct 18, 2007 (AFP) - Government officials from north and northwest Africa will to meet in Mali's capital Bamako to tackle security concerns in the region, Foreign Minister Moctar Ouane said on Thursday.

Ouane, quoted by local radio stations, said the planned talks will focus on peace, security and development in the region at the initiative of Mali's President Amadou Toumani Toure.

The region concerned comprises Algeria, Burkina Faso Faso, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco and Niger.

ALGIERS, Oct 15, 2007 (AFP) - Battles and attacks involving Islamists and Algerian security forces left four Islamists and a policeman dead, a security source told AFP on Monday.

Four armed Islamists were killed on Saturday by security forces near the town of Thenia in the Boumerdes region, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) east of Algiers, according to the same source.

ALGER, Oct 10, 2007 (AFP) - Algerian security forces killed the deputy leader of the Maghreb offshoot of Al-Al Qaeda in a clash in the east of the country, newspapers reported Wednesday.

Zobeir Harkat, who was better known as Sofiane Fassila, was killed Sunday in fighting in the troubled Kabylie region, said the reports, which were not immediately confirmed by authorities.

PARIS, Oct 10, 2007 (AFP) - A new film described as France's 'Platoon' tackles the savagery of the Algerian war, broaching a topic that until recently remained taboo and helping France face the demons of its colonial past.

'L'Ennemi Intime' (Intimate Enemy) from director Florent-Emilio Siri is the first big-budget Hollywood-style film that combines action scenes and psychological drama about France's 'dirty war' in Algeria from 1954 to 1962.

ALGIERS, Oct 9, 2007 (AFP) - Three soldiers were killed and five wounded east of Algiers on the weekend when two bombs went off as an army convoy drove by, a security source said Tuesday.

The bombs, triggered by remote control, went off on Sunday as the convoy passed in the Boumerdes region, 50 kilometres (31 miles) east of the capital.

The soldiers were on their way to their camp to break their Ramadan fasting, said the source.

ALGIERS, Oct 8, 2007 (AFP) - Two Algerian television journalists charged with broadcasting blasphemous cartoons of the prophet Mohammed have been acquitted by a criminal court, a judicial official said Monday.

The state prosecutor had demanded a five year prison sentence for journalists Lotfi Chriet and Houria Khater and two years for the technicians involved in the broadcast by the two public television stations Canal Algeria and A3.

PARIS, Oct 8, 2007 (AFP) - France risks a repeat of a wave of bombings by Algerian extremists in the 1990s now that militants have rallied Al-Al Qaeda, intelligence chiefs warned in a French newspaper Monday.

'We are facing a double threat,' Bernard Squarcini, head of the DST counter-intelligence agency, said in an interview in daily Liberation.

'There is a threat from the international movement, from (Osama) bin Laden, but also from our proximity with Algeria, and therefore the risk of a repeat of what we experienced in 1994-95.'

ALGIERS, Oct 6, 2007 (AFP) - Eight soldiers and four Islamic extremists have been killed in the last few days in eastern Algeria, security officials said Saturday.

Six of the soldiers were killed while conducting an operation to sweep out extremists near Tebessa, they said.

A seventh was targeted in an attack outside a mosque near Dellys.

The eighth soldier was killed in an operation in mountains above Tidjellabine. Three armed Islamists also died.

The fourth Islamist, a regional leader who was trying to seize an army camp in Skikda, was also killed.

PARIS, Oct 5, 2007 (AFP) - Algeria's interior minister confirmed here on Friday that one of the most hardline guerrilla chiefs opposed to Algeria's government, Hassan Hattab of the GSPC, has surrendered to police.

Hattab 'gave himself up' to the authorities on September 22, Yazid Zerhouni told reporters after security talks in Paris with his French counterpart Michele Alliot-Marie.

His surrender was reported on Friday by Arab daily newspapers Ech-Chourouk and Al-Hayat. Officials had declined to confirm the reports.

ALGIERS, Oct 5, 2007 (AFP) - Five people were killed in flooding which hit central Algeria on Wednesday and Thursday, the Civil Guard announced Friday.

The dead included two drowned teenagers and three others who were swept away in flash floods.

Since Wednesday violent tempests have ravaged the central regions of the country, causing flooding and deluging roads and housing.

The national meteorological office predicted the weather conditions will begin to ease on Saturday.

ALGIERS, Oct 2, 2007 (AFP) - An Algerian prosecutor has detained 11 people suspected of involvement in a suicide bomb attack against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika last month which killed 22 people, a legal source said Tuesday.

The September 6 attack in the northeastern city of Batna, just before Bouteflika's convoy was to drive by, was claimed by Al-Al Qaeda's Maghreb offshoot.

Six of the 11 people jailed on Monday are aged between 17 and 26 and were preparing to go underground with the Al-Al Qaeda group, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

ALGIERS, Oct 1, 2007 (AFP) - Algeria's loss-making state-owned companies will be broken up while others will be privatised alongside the country's banks, Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem said.

'As regards unprofitable companies, the government will no longer keep them alive and instead will seek to break them up,' the premier told a meeting of Algerian businessmen late Sunday.

PARIS, Oct 1, 2007 (AFP) - An Algerian extremist accused of financing bombings in the Paris metro that left eight dead and 200 injured 12 years ago went on trial Monday before a Paris court.

Rachid Ramda, 38, who was extradited from Britain in December 2005 after a 10-year legal battle, faces a possible life sentence if convicted after the month-long trial.

In March last year he was sentenced to 10 years in prison by a separate court on other charges related to the bombings.

PARIS, Sept 30, 2007 (AFP) - An Algerian extremist accused of financing the deadly 1995 bombings in the Paris metro that left eight dead and 200 injured goes on trial Monday before a Paris criminal court.

Rachid Ramda, 38, who was extradited from Britain in December 2005 after a 10-year legal battle, faces a possible life sentence if convicted at the outcome of the month-long trial.

In March last year he was sentenced to 10 years in prison by a separate French tribunal on terrorism charges.

ALGIERS, Sept 30, 2007 (AFP) - The suspected mastermind of a recent suicide bombing that claimed 32 lives in Algeria was among 11 people killed in militant-linked violence over the weekend in Algeria, a security source said Sunday.

Ten Islamist rebels, including a local chieftain, were killed by security forces on Friday in the restive eastern Kabylie region, south of the seaside capital Algiers, the source said.

ALGIERS, Sept 28, 2007 (AFP) - One of the most hardline guerrilla chiefs opposed to Algeria's government, Hassan Hattab of the Salafist Movement for Preaching and Combat, has surrendered, an Arab-language daily reported Friday.

'Hassan Hattab, known under the name of Abou Hamza and founder of the GSPC in 1998, has surrendered to the security forces to benefit from the Charter for Peace and Reconciliation,' the daily Ech-Chourouk said on its website, citing 'corroborating sources'.

ALGIERS, Sept 26, 2007 (AFP) - Five people have been killed and five injured in a series of violent attacks involving armed Islamists in Algeria on Monday and Tuesday, according to a security source Wednesday.

Three civil guards were killed Monday evening when their patrol was ambushed by an armed group in Tassedane in the eastern region of Mila.

A serviceman was killed and five others injured when several homemade bombs exploded in scrubland at Ma-Labiod, which borders Tunisia on the eastern border of Algeria.

ALGIERS, Sept 24, 2007 (AFP) - Algeria is set to build the third-largest mosque in the world facing the Bay of Algiers to hold 120,000 faithful, the government announced Monday.

'Its placement is symbolic. Algiers and its bay were witnesses to the centuries of resistance of the Algerian people' to invaders from the sea, Religious Affairs Minister Boubdallah Ghlamallah said at a press conference.

'Algeria lacks a great mosque emblematic of the period after independence. This project will be in keeping with the ambitions of the people of Algeria,' he added.

BAMAKO, Sept 23, 2007 (AFP) - Thirty-seven would-be immigrants from the Democratic Republic of Congo arrived in Mali's capital this weekend after failing to enter Morocco and Algeria, one of the returnees said Sunday.

To add to their woes, they were blocked in northern Mali for nearly a month due to clashes between Tuareg rebels and government soldiers, he said.

BAMAKO, Sept 23, 2007 (AFP) - Algeria and Mali released Sunday 1.15 billion CFA francs (1.75 million euros, 2.4 million dollars) in development aid for northern Mali as part of a peace deal struck with Tuareg rebels active in the area.

The money 'is the first instalment of funds, aimed at financing small projects for youth rehabilitation' in the Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal regions, officials monitoring the implementation of last year's Algiers agreement said.

ALGIERS, Sept 21, 2007 (AFP) - Al-Al Qaeda's branch in North Africa claimed responsibility Friday for a suicide bombing in Algeria that wounded two French people and one Italian, hours after it had threatened French targets in the region.

In an 'audio statement' posted on the Internet and received by Al-Arabiya television's office in Algiers, Al-Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb said one of its militants carried out the attack with a car laden with 'more than 250 kilos (550 pounds) of explosives.'

DUBAI, Sept 21, 2007 (AFP) - Al-Al Qaeda's branch in North Africa claimed responsibility on Friday for a suicide bombing in Algeria that wounded two French people and one Italian, Al-Arabiya television reported.

In an 'audio statement' posted on the Internet and received by Al-Arabiya's office in Algiers, Al-Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb said one of its militants with the nom de guerre of Othman Abu Jaafar (eds: correct) carried out the attack with a car laden with 'more than 250 kilos (550 pounds) of explosives.'

PARIS, Sept 21, 2007 (AFP) - France said Friday that it takes 'very seriously' threats from Al-Al Qaeda against its nationals in North Africa and has stepped up security measures.

'We take these new threats very seriously,' said foreign ministry spokesman Frederic Desagneaux. 'We have instructed the diplomatic stations concerned to reinforce security.'

In a video message released Thursday, Al-Al Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri called for the 'cleansing' of Spaniards and French from north Africa.

ALGIERS, Sept 21, 2007 (AFP) - A suicide bomber rammed a booby-trapped car into a convoy in Algeria on Friday wounding two French engineers and an Italian, in an attack only hours after Al-Al Qaeda called for an offensive against French targets.

Six Algerians, five of them police, were also injured in the attack near the town of Lakhdaria, about 75 kilometers (50 miles) southeast of Algiers, where the North African offshoot of Al-Al Qaeda has claimed previous attacks.

Scores have died in bomb attacks claimed by Al-Al Qaeda across the country this year.

ALGIERS, Sept 21, 2007 (AFP) - A bomb attack near a city east of Algiers injured two French citizens, one Italian and six Algerians, including five police, security sources said Friday.

The three foreigners, who worked for firms operating in Algeria, were being escorted by the police when a small bomb exploded next to their convoy, according to the sources.

The attack took place near to Lakhdaria (formerly Palestro), according to the sources. There is no confirmation yet from the Italian or French embassies.

ALGIERS, Sept 21, 2007 (AFP) - A bomb attack near a city east of Algiers injured two French citizens, one Italian and six Algerians, including five police, security sources said Friday.

The three foreigners, who worked for firms operating in Algeria, were being escorted by the police when a small bomb exploded next to their convoy, according to the sources.

There is no confirmation yet from the Italian or French embassies.

PARIS, Sept 21, 2007 (AFP) - Two French nationals who worked in Algiers returned home this week after a group linked to Al-Al Qaeda threatened to kidnap them, a French intelligence source said Friday.

The two men, who were employed by the airport management company Aeroports de Paris (ADP), were told to return immediately after French intelligence received a tip-off from its Algerian counterpart.

Algerian agents had specific information about 'threats of an abduction' targeting the two airport employees from a 'terrorist group linked to Al-Al Qaeda', said the source.

ALGIERS, Sept 19, 2007 (AFP) - A security guard was killed and another injured by a homemade bomb in the Bouira in the Kabylie region, 120 kilometres (75 miles) southeast of the capital Algiers, security sources said Wednesday.

The bomb was buried in a hill near a tree used by guards as a look-out.

It was the second attack since the start of the month of Ramadan on September 13.

The first attack on September 14 targeted police accommodation in Zemmouri, 50 kilometres (30 miles) east of the capital, killing three people and injuring five.

ALGIERS, Sept 14, 2007 (AFP) - Three people were killed and five others wounded when a homemade bomb exploded on Friday outside a police residence east of the Algerian capital, security forces said.

Two people had to have their legs amputated after the incident at Zemmouri, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) east of Algiers.

The bomb was placed in a plastic bag at the entrance to the residence where police officers and their families live. It exploded shortly before Muslims broke the Ramadan fast.

ALGIERS, Sept 14, 2007 (AFP) - Eight people were injured, two seriously, when a homemade bomb exploded on Friday outside a police residence east of the Algerian capital, security forces said.

Two people had to have their legs amputated after the attack at Zemmouri, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) east of Algiers.

The bomb was placed in a plastic bag at the entrance to the residence where police officers and their families live. It exploded shortly before Muslims broke the Ramadan fast.

WELLINGTON, Sept 13, 2007 (AFP) - An Algerian refugee has won a five-year battle to be allowed to stay in New Zealand after the country's spy agency said Thursday the Islamic scholar was no longer considered a security risk.

The New Zealand spy agency, the Security Intelligence Service (SIS), ruled in 2003 that Ahmed Zaoui was a security risk after his arrival in the country late the previous year.

Zaoui was alleged to have links to Islamist terrorists in Algeria and had been convicted in the 1990s for involvement in preparing terrorist acts in Belgium and France.

VIENNA, Sept 11, 2007 (AFP) - The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries announced Tuesday that Algeria's oil minister will take over the presidency of the organisation in 2008.

The 12-member oil cartel said in a statement that it had elected Algerian Energy Minister Chakib Khelil for one year, starting on January 1, 2008.

Khelil will take over from current president, United Arab Emirate Energy Minister Mohammad bin Dhaen al-Hamli, with Angola's Desiderio da Gracia Verissimo e Costa acting as alternate president.

ALGIERS, Sept 11, 2007 (AFP) - Police in Algeria on Tuesday freed the former deputy leader of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), Ali Belhadj after two days in detention following his criticism of a late intelligence chief.

'I was released this morning at about 6:30 GMT, without being told of any charges,' Belhadj told AFP by telephone, adding he had been informed that 'the prosecutor could issue a new summons for me at an unspecified date.'

VIENNA, Sept 11, 2007 (AFP) - Algerian Energy Minister Chakib Khelil said Tuesday he saw no need for OPEC ministers meeting here to announce an increase in the oil cartel's output.

'Right now we don't see sufficient evidence that there's a need,' he told journalists during a break in the one-day meeting.

'We need to wait. We still have a meeting at the summit (in November in Saudi Arabia) and an extra meeting in December,' he said.

VIENNA, Sept 10, 2007 (AFP) - Algerian Energy Ministe