Algeria stops Libyan weapons smugglers

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — An Algerian daily reports that the army has arrested seven Libyans in two four-wheel drive vehicles packed with weapons near the desert border. Al-Khabar on Tuesday quoted unidentified local security officials as saying they believe the arms were intended for al-Qaida militants who roam the deserts. Algeria has repeatedly sounded the alarm over the danger of weapons from Libya — where a civil war raged for much of the year — falling into the hands of militants. The trucks contained assault rifles, Katyusha rockets and ammunition of various calibers, the paper reported. The seven men arrested tried to pass themselves off as former Libyan rebels on patrol, but the officials said there were too many weapons in the trucks. The paper added that the army has mounted a major operation to crack down on desert smuggling networks.