Officials in Algeria say gunmen have killed 13 customs agents in the southern part of the country.
The agents were attacked Friday in the Ghardaia region as they traveled in a convoy to attend a seminar in the town of Ouragla. At least eight other agents were wounded, and one person is reported missing.
The desert region of southern Algeria has been populated with a mix of arms traffickers and Islamic insurgents who have been waging war against the government since 1992.
The insurgency began when authorities canceled legislative elections a now-outlawed Islamic party was poised to win. At least 200 thousand people have died in the violence.
The government has offered amnesty to the militants in an effort to end the insurgency.
The agents were attacked Friday in the Ghardaia region as they traveled in a convoy to attend a seminar in the town of Ouragla. At least eight other agents were wounded, and one person is reported missing.
The desert region of southern Algeria has been populated with a mix of arms traffickers and Islamic insurgents who have been waging war against the government since 1992.
The insurgency began when authorities canceled legislative elections a now-outlawed Islamic party was poised to win. At least 200 thousand people have died in the violence.
The government has offered amnesty to the militants in an effort to end the insurgency.