Algerian police kill 13 militants

Algiers (AP) - Police shot and killed 13 armed Islamic militants overnight in fundamentalist strongholds after five policemen were ambushed and killed the day before, officials said yesterday. Heavily armed, hooded riot police wearing bullet-proof vests patrolled fundamentalist neighbourhoods throughout the day. They stopped and searched cars and passersby and made several arrests.

The government has failed to halt violence that has led to the deaths of more than 250 police and soldiers since it cancelled elections in January that Muslim fundamentalists were expected to win.