Algiers - Algerian security forces killed 11 suspected members of an Islamic insurgency group in sweeps east of the capital, newspapers reported on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the official APS news agency denied newspaper reports that 12 local guards working with security forces were killed in a raid on their barracks in eastern Algeria.
The 11 insurgents were suspected members of the Salafist Group for Call and Combat, known as the GSPC, led by Hassan Hattab, on a US blacklist of terrorist organisations.
They were killed in separate operations by armed forces in recent days near Setif, 300km east of Algiers, and Djelfa, 270km southeast of the capital, the daily El Khabar reported.
The paper said the "emir," or leader of the GSPC for the city of Batna, 435km east of Algiers, was executed by a rival local chief. The dead chief was identified as Abou Ibrahim, 36.
The APS news agency, referring to the mistaken report of 12 communal guards, who are citizens working with security forces, said an armed group attacked a barracks at Oum-Toub in the Skikda region, 500 km east of the capital, on Monday night, set it afire and "seeded terror among the population" - but killed no one.
The dailies Le Matin and Liberte had reported that 12 communal guardsmen were killed in the attack by 15 to 20 Islamic insurgents.
In other violence, insurgents ambushed and killed three unarmed guardsmen as they walked down an alley in the village of Si Mustapha, 50km east of Algiers, Le Matin reported.
Algerian newspapers carry almost daily reports of killings of insurgents, security forces and civilians since violence erupted in 1992 following the army's decision to cancel legislative elections that a Muslim fundamentalist party was poised to win.
An estimated 120 000 people are believed to have died since the violence began. - Sapa-AP