ALGIERS, Nov 3: Algerian soldiers backed by helicopter gunships attacked the cave hideouts of a radical rebel faction, killing 11 guerillas, local media reported on Saturday.

The El Watan newspaper said Thursday’s raid against the Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC), which has been linked to Osama bin Laden, took place in Boudekhane, near the city of Khenchela, about 500kms east of Algiers.

The GSPC was included in Washington’s Sept 24 list of persons and organizations whose assets in the United States have been ordered frozen by President George W. Bush.

Security sources in Algeria and Europe have long linked the group to Osama.

El Watan said government troops seized weapons, including a Soviet-made rocket launcher, and radio transmission equipment.

In a separate incident, four people — a policeman, a soldier and two customs officers — had their throats slit on Wednesday night at a fake army roadblock set up by rebels near the city of Batna, 435kms east of Algiers, the daily Liberte reported.

Liberte said several other policemen and customs officers who introduced themselves as businessmen were spared by the rebels.

The GSPC, also known as Daawa wal Jihad, is one of Algeria’s most radical fundamentalist groups. It has been fighting for nearly 10 years to overthrow the military-backed government of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

Violence erupted in the North African country after authorities cancelled a general election in January 1992 which Islamic fundamentalists were poised to win. More than 100,000 people have been killed since then, according to official figures, although independent sources put the death toll at 150,000.

Killings have continued despite a presidential amnesty that benefited more that 6,000 rebels who laid downs their weapons. —Reuters