Armed Islamic Group Massacres Civilians

Belying government claims that Algeria is returning to peace, Islamic militants slit the throats of 32 civilians and then beheaded some of them, independent newspapers reported Saturday.

Armed with sabers and axes, the attackers took only half an hour on Wednesday to wreak havoc in a village near Ksar El Boukhari, 90 miles south of Algiers, the French language dailies El Watan and Liberte reported.

The newspapers said the victims, including 16 women, came from four different families.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks, which were not reported by the progovernment media.