The leader of a radical Islamic rebel group in Algeria has been arrested and his deputy has been killed, the Interior Ministry has said.  Security services detained Nourredine Boudiafi, head of the Armed Islamic Group (GIA), in the eastern Algiers suburb of Bab Ezzouar in November. His deputy, Chaabane Younes, was killed in Chlef, 210km (160 miles) west of Algiers, the ministry added. The GIA has already been weakened by internal rivalries, the statement said. The ministry statement did not give precise details of Mr Boudiafi's arrest or of the killing of Mr Younes. But it said his arrest followed the killing of Mr Boudiafi's predecessor, Rachid Ouakali, alias Abu Tourab, in July by his own men so that Mr Boudiafi could take over. |