Five Islamists surrender in Algeria: report

Five terrorists have surrendered in the east of the country where the Algerian military has launched a major operation against extremists, reports said on Thursday.

• The programme allows terrorists who surrender with their arms to enjoy an amnesty, under certain conditions, and to reintegrate back into civilian life.
• Last week, reports said the Algerian army killed eight terrorists guerrillas in an operation in the same area, near Batna, 435 kilometres (270 miles) southeast of Algiers.
• Algeria is wracked by low-level guerrilla warfare by Muslim fundamentalists against the secular government and security forces. According to the interior ministry, most of the armed groups have been wiped out.