Algerian police kill 6 militants in ambush

Algiers: An Algerian security official says police, acting on a tip, ambushed a van carrying Islamist extremists, killing six east of the capital. Police opened fire on the van as it drove through the winding roads of the heavily forested Takhoukht valley Tuesday night, causing it to drive off the road. [caption id=“attachment_351452” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Reuters”]  [/caption] One militant was captured and two others escaped, added the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press. The ambush was arranged after a tip by local residents. It is part of a security sweep in the area following an attack Saturday night on a police station in a nearby village that killed two policemen. The attack took place in the Kabylie mountains, the last major stronghold of al-Qaida in Algeria. IANS