Mayor of Algiers killed in gun battle

PARIS - The mayor of Algiers was killed in the Algerian capital yesterday when he was apparently hit by a stray bullet from a gun battle between Muslim guerrillas and security forces, residents and officials said. A resident reached by telephone said "it seems" that the mayor, Mr Ali Boucetta, was hit by a stray bullet in Telemely district of Algiers as the security forces were storming a nearby hideout for Islamist rebels.