ALGIERS () -- Security forces said Sunday they had killed 14 Moslem fundamentalist militants during a daylong sweep.


The killings came during the holy month of Ramadan, when militants have promised to step up their action aimed at toppling the military-led government of President Liamine Zeroual.


Security forces in central Algeria said they killed seven suspected Moslem militants in Tablat, six in Blida and one in Cherarba.


The 14 were among 40 people reported dead in recent violence, the latest incidents in a three-year-old fundamentalist insurgency