Reports Conflict On Death Of Militant Leader

The leader of the extremist Armed Islamic Group was among the hundreds killed in a major army offensive against Muslim militants that began last week, a newspaper reported Wednesday.

But a Muslim fundamentalist source told The Associated Press that Djamel Zitouni, 27, was still alive. The source, speaking on anonymity, cited Zitouni’s family.

The independent El Watan newspaper said Zitouni, also known by his battle name Abu Abderahmane Amine, was killed in fighting in the mountains 80 miles west of Algiers. Algerian officials, who have not commented on the offensive, did not confirm the report.