ALGIERS, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Two terrorists surrendered to Algerian authorities while three terror suspects were arrested in the western province of Tlemcen, the Defense Ministry said Monday.
The two terrorists who surrendered probably joined terrorist groups in 2011 and 2015 respectively, a ministry statement said, adding they were in possession of two Kalashnikov-type machine guns.
Algeria has opened safe routes along its southern border to encourage Algerian militants who joined terrorist groups to lay down their arms in exchange for fair trials.
The statement also announced that three terror suspects were arrested in Tlemcen.
The security situation in Algeria has remarkably improved in the last decade but clashes between security forces and terrorist groups are still occasionally reported.
A few militants affiliated to al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and the recently established Islamic State-affiliated groups are still taking refuge in the dense woods in northern Algeria, and remote desert areas near the troubled Libya and Mali.
