ALGIERS, April 23 (Reuters) - Algerian security forces have killed five Islamist insurgents in an operation in the east of the North African country, two newspapers reported on Thursday.

The insurgents were killed on Tuesday during a sweep by security forces in a mountainous area of the Tebessa province, near Algeria's border with Tunisia, the El Watan and Liberte newspapers reported. There was no official confirmation.

Algeria is still emerging from a conflict in the 1990s between Islamists and government forces which killed 200,000 people, according to estimates from international non-governmental organisations.

The violence has declined significantly in the past few years, but militants affiliated to al Qaeda continue to launch sporadic strikes on government targets. (Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Charles Dick)

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