Al-Qaeda assassinates Algerian army official

A security source revealed on Tuesday that a lieutenant in the Algerian army was assassinated ?by a terrorism group related to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. The army leader was killed around 7pm on Monday whilst heading to the battalion where he works north Tizi Ouzou (120 km east Algiers).? He was shot as he got into his car. The 35-year-old officer managed to fire back at the group, who then escaped. National security authorities have intensified their positions at a number of checkpoints. Security forces are implementing a control plan to monitor the movements of groups ?related to al-Qaeda by controlling all entrances to cities and roads leading to ?forest areas. Tizi Ouzou is a city in north central Algeria, it is the capital and largest city of Tizi Ouzou Province. The area remains the deadliest area as a number of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb militants reside in the region.