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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Proposed Cease-Fire Ignored By Militants

Associated Press

One of Algeria’s main armed Islamic groups apparently kept to a unilateral cease-fire that took effect Wednesday, but hospital sources said three people died in a shooting blamed on Muslim militants.

The truce announced by the Islamic Salvation Army has not been publicly supported by other Islamic militants, including the violent Armed Islamic Group, which has vowed to continue its bloody attacks in an attempt to destabilize Algeria’s military-backed government.

The cease-fire comes three weeks before regional elections and after a round of extremely gruesome attacks, most of which have been blamed on Islamic militants.

The Islamic Salvation Army is considered a diminished force, with bases in eastern and western Algeria but no presence in the Algiers region, where much of the violence has taken place. The group, which is the armed wing of the banned Islamic Salvation Front political party, called for the cease-fire last week.

However, violence has continued. Since Saturday, almost 100 people have died in attacks by militants.