March 3 (Reuters) - The death toll from political violence in Algeria fell to 19 in February, from 25 in January, according to a Reuters count based on newspaper reports.

Following are the main developments.

* Suspected Islamist rebels killed eight paramilitary gendarmes when they ambushed their convoy on Feb. 7 in the desert province of El Oued.

Al Qaeda's north Africa wing claimed responsibility for the ambush, the deadliest attack since Dec. 11 when 41 people, including 17 United Nations staff, were killed in a double suicide bombing in Algiers.

* Overall, 12 members of government forces, six rebels and one civilian, were killed in political violence in February.

* During the month, security forces arrested 12 people suspected of involvement in an attack on a police post in Thenia east of Algiers on Jan.29.

* On Feb. 26 government forces killed a rebel leader near Boumerdes east of Algiers. Newspapers said he was involved in several attacks including two on police stations on Dec. 12, 2006 in Reghaia and Dergana, on the outskirts of Algiers. A total of three people were killed in those attacks.

* During the last days of the month, the army launched an operation in the Kabylie region and surrounded several Islamist militants, including, some newspapers said, the leader of al Qaeda's north Africa wing Abdelmalek Droudkel, also known as Abu Mus'ab Abd el -Wadoud. The operation is still going on. (Reporting by Hamid Ould Ahmed; Editing by Janet Lawrence)

AlertNet news is provided by