Algeria Blocks Al Qaida Attacks

CAIRO [MENL] -- Algeria appears to have halted major attacks by Al Qaida.
Officials said Algeria's army and security forces have foiled several
major strikes by Al Qaida in late 2008. They said authorities have raided
strongholds and arrested key operatives in the mountains east of Algiers.
"The security situation is positive," Algerian Interior Minister Nour
Eddin Zerhouni said.