25 February 2010 - 18H22  

Algerian police chief shot dead: ministry
Algeria's interior ministry has said that police chief Ali Tounsi, seen here in 2004, was shot dead by a collegue during a blazing row in Algiers.
Algeria's interior ministry has said that police chief Ali Tounsi, seen here in 2004, was shot dead by a collegue during a blazing row in Algiers.

AFP - A police official shot dead Algeria's national police chief during a blazing row in his office in central Algiers on Thursday, the interior ministry said.

Colonel Ali Tounsi was gunned down around 10:45 am (0945 GMT) when the official was "appparently overcome by a fit of madness," the ministry said in a statement.

The killer then turned his gun on himself, and was taken to hospital for treatment to his wounds, it said.

Police have opened an investigation into the circumstances behind the killing, the ministry added.

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