Algerian security forces killed at least five militants on Sunday amid a large anti-terrorist operation to root out rebels hiding in western Algeria, newspapers said. The militants were killed as the military combed through Sidi M'Barek in the Saida province, some 400 km (250 miles) west of the capital Algiers. Newspaper El Khabar said on Monday five were killed while Le Soir d'Algerie said six died. Authorities were not immediately available for comment. An army commander was killed on Friday when his military convoy drove over a mine in El-Melaab, some 200 km southwest of Algiers, Le Soir d'Algerie said.
