ALGIERS (Reuters) - Algerian Islamist militants killed the mayor of a village in a district considered to be a stronghold of al Qaeda's north African wing, local media and security services said on Saturday.
The 47-year-old mayor of Baghlia was assassinated late on Friday outside his house while heading to a mosque for prayers, Echorouk newspaper said on its internet site.
The Arabic-language daily, citing unnamed sources, gave no details on the circumstances of the incident, but said the mayor belonged to National Liberation Front party (FLN), Algeria's largest political party.
A security source confirmed the attack.
"They killed the mayor of Baghlia," he told Reuters.
Official Algerian authorities were not immediately available for comment.
Baghlia is located in Boumerdes province about 50 km (31 miles) east of Algiers, one of the main strongholds for al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Reuters Africa
