Hadj Cherif was shot dead while discussing the surrender of nine guerrillas surrounded by security forces in a 15-story building, the official Algerian news agency APS said, quoting security officials.
Troops then stormed the building and killed nine guerrillas while security forces raided another house nearby, killing four armed militants, the agency said. Security forces surrounded the guerrilla strongholds after they were told of planned attacks to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the start of Algeria's war of independence against France.
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