ALGIERS, July 3 (Reuters) - The death toll from political violence in Algeria almost doubled to 27 in June from 15 in May, according to a Reuters count based on newspaper reports.

Sixteen members of government forces, three civilians, a French engineer and seven rebels were killed in the north African OPEC member country last month.

Following are a few of the main developments:

* On June 5, six soldiers were killed when their convoy hit a bomb planted by rebels in the coastal village of Cap Djinet, about 40 km (25 miles) east of Algiers.

* On June 8, a bomb attack killed a French engineer working for French company Razel and his Algerian driver in the town of Beni Amrane in Boumerdes province, about 50 km (30 miles) from the capital. It was the first time since the 1990s that a French citizen had been killed in political violence in Algeria.

France said French firms -- there are more than 200 operating in Algeria -- would not be driven out by armed groups.

* On June 26, three paramilitary gendarmes and a municipal guard were shot dead when they came under fire in an ambush in a mountainous area in the eastern province of Jijel, some 360 km (225 miles) from Algiers.

* On June 27, rebels detonated two bombs from a distance, killing two soldiers and wounding 11 others during a search operation by the army in a forest in Tizi Ouzou province, about 100 km (62 miles) east of Algiers.

* Thirteen rebels were sentenced to death in absentia in separate trials. Courts have handed guerrillas several death sentences in recent years but no execution has taken place since 1993. (Reporting by Hamid Ould Ahmed; Editing by William Maclean)

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