ALGIERS, March 2 (Reuters) - The death toll from political violence in Algeria more than doubled to 33 in February after rebels stepped up attacks before April's presidential vote, according to a Reuters count based on newspaper reports.

Twenty members of the security forces, five civilians and eight rebels were reported killed in the north African OPEC-member country last month, which also saw the surrender of two militants.

Following are some of the main developments:

Feb. 2 - Two rebels surrender in the western province of Chlef.

Feb. 3 - A bomb kills a soldier and wound nine more during a search operation in a mountainous area of Tizi Ouzou province, some 110 km (70 miles) east of Algiers.

Feb. 10 - Security forces kill two rebels and seize two Kalashnikov rifles in Tizi Ouzou province.

Feb. 12 - Twin bombings kill seven people, including two members of the security forces and a fireman, in the eastern province of Tebessa near the border with Tunisia.

Feb. 15 - Islamic militants kill eight soldiers in two separate attacks in Tebessa and Boumerdes provinces.

Feb. 17 - The army kills five rebels during an operation near Tebessa town.

Feb. 22 - Rebels kill nine security guards at a gas installation in the coastal province of Jijel, about 360 km (225 miles) east of Algiers.

Interior Minister Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni said the attack may have been linked to the presidential election scheduled for April 9. "I do not rule out that this attack was perpetrated in order to create a disagreeable atmosphere as the presidential election approached," he said.

Feb. 23 - Security forces kill a rebel and seize a Kalashnikov rifle near Dellys town in Boumerdes province. (Writing by Hamid Ould Ahmed; Editing by Tom Pfeiffer)