Algiers - Islamist guerilla fighters damaged a plane during an attack at Djanet airport in the far south-eastern part of Algeria, press reports said Saturday. Security forces countered the attack which occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning.
According to El Watna daily, the attackers damaged an Air Algerie plane, while Le Soir d'Algerie said two helicopters and a military aircraft had been hit.
The attackers had arrived in three off-road vehicles with rocket launchers and machine guns and were able to escape across the border into Niger, the reports said.
The attack comes as the southern Algerian desert is entering the tourist high season.
Airport security precautions have been particularly strict since the kidnapping of tourists in 2003, and airports are guarded by the military.
It remained unclear whether the attackers tried to enter the airport site or whether they had only fired shots from a distance.
