Officials in Algeria say nearly eighty per cent of Islamic militants have turned themselves in to the government under President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's amnesty offer.

Those who surrendered include members of the Islamic Salvation Army or AIS which dissolved itself last week.

Under Mr Bouteflika's civil concord bill all militants who were not involved in murders, rape or bomb attacks, were entitled to full or partial amnesty if they surrendered before the deadline which expired last week.

Several extremist groups, including the Armed Islamic Group, GIA, rejected the offer, describing AIS members as enemies of Islam.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service