ALGIERS, Jan 3 (Reuters) - The death toll from political violence in Algeria reached 16 in December, double that of the previous month, according to a Reuters count based on newspaper reports.

The total number of people killed in 2008 fell to 338 from 491 in 2007, according to the reports.

All of those killed last month were rebels as government forces stepped up attacks on al Qaeda's north African wing.

Al Qaeda claimed the killing of at least 5 members of the government security forces last month, but local newspapers did not report the claims.

Al Qaeda's north African wing said it killed at least 29 members of Algeria's security forces in the past three months, a U.S.-based firm which monitors militant websites reported on Saturday [nL3394015].

Following are some of the main developments:

Dec. 1 - Government forces kill four rebels in Tizi Ouzou province.

Dec. 3 - Police kill two rebels and seize a grenade in Constantine, 430 km (268 miles) east of Algiers.

Dec. 4 - Newspapers reported that the army killed the mastermind of an assassination attempt on President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Sept. 6, 2006.

Dec. 12 - Government forces kill two rebels belonging to the same family in Tlemcen province, 580 km west of the capital.

Dec. 19 - The army kills three rebels belonging to the al Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb near the southern town of Bordj Badji Mokhtar, 1,600 km from Algiers.

Dec. 29 - The army kills two rebels in a mountainous area in Medea province, 120 km south of the capital. (Writing by Maghreb Newsroom)

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