ALGIERS, June 23 (Reuters) - Insurgents killed five Algerian paramilitary police and kidnapped two others in an ambush, several local newspapers reported on Tuesday.

Algeria, which has been fighting Islamist militants for nearly two decades, has seen an upsurge in violent attacks in the past few weeks including an ambush last week which the authorities said killed 18 police and one civilian.

In the latest attack, on Monday morning, the insurgents cut their victims' throats and escaped with the two hostages as well as weapons and police uniforms, the independent El Watan newspaper cited witnesses as saying.

The ambush was in the Khenchela province, about 600 km (370 miles) southeast of Algiers, the newspaper said.

There was no official confirmation of the attack. At least two other Algerian newspapers also reported that five police were killed in the attack.

AlertNet news is provided by