The conflict with Islamists has taken a huge toll

Algerian security forces have killed about 150 Islamist rebels during the first two weeks of an ongoing operation against one of the country's largest militant groups, reports say.

Thousands of Algerian troops and government-sponsored militiamen were mobilised for the operation against strongholds of the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) in the mountains near Setif, 300 kilometres (190 miles) east of Algiers, newspapers say.

Security officials are quoted as saying that at one point the charred remains of 105 people were found following an intense artillery bombardment of caves said to have been used as hideouts by militants.

More than 100,000 people have been killed in Algeria in the insurgency that followed the quashing of elections in 1991 which the Islamic Salvation Front were poised to win.

Several women and children including babies, believed to be members of the rebel families living in the hideouts, were found during the operation, El Watan newspaper reported, citing military sources.

Reports also said a number of women and children had been freed and that various weapons had been recovered.