Journalist Shot dead in Algeria stronghold

Algiers - A journalist was shot dead on Friday in Algeria at a stronghold where insurgents linked to al Qaeda are active, according to a security official.

The killing happened at a time when journalists across the globe are commemorating World Press Freedom Day. Reuters Africa reported that the Journalist, Ahmed Nezar was shot dead in the afternoon about 100km (60miles) east of the capital. “There is no confirmation the attack was carried out be al Qaeda-affiliated militants but the killings revived memories of the 1990 when journalists were routinely targeted by the Islam's insurgents fighting government forces,” Reuters Africa reported. Nezar is reported to have been a free lance correspondent for several French Newspapers in Algeria which is a former colony of France. "The journalist lived in this dangerous area where several local officials have been killed in the past few years," an unidentified security official said. News daily reported that Algeria is emerging from conflict with the Islamic militants in which at least 200 000 people were killed in the 1990s. Crackdowns and offers of amnesties to insurgents have helped to reduce the violent democracy, News Daily reported. CNBC however reported that last month, Islam's militants killed 13 soldiers in the mountainous Kabylie east of Algiers in their worst deadliest attack for months. The online publication further reports that six soldiers were killed the following day in the same region and two paramilitary police were killed nearby late last month. Also reported is that al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) use threats and violence to extort money from farmers in and around Baghlia to fund the deadly operations.