By late on Friday, a group of 350 guerrillas were reported to have disbanded, while a small militant group, the League for Appeal and Struggle, said it would end its armed struggle. The FIS urged President Bouteflika to release its leaders and other jailed members as the six-month amnesty period expired. The rebels are reported to have said it could take up to two weeks for all their fighters to come down from the mountains. A BBC correspondent in North Africa says it now seems likely that the deadline will be at least informally extended.
Parliament adopts amnesty for militants.
The deadline, which passed without incident, is part of President Bouteflika's plan to end the Islamic insurgency that has left more than 100,000 dead. The FIS formally dissolved its military wing earlier this week. But the rebel group blamed for most civilian killings, the GIA, has so far rejected the government's offer of a partial amnesty in return for giving up its weapons. Government troops have been deployed in preparation to root out those who do not comply. Artillery pieces and scores of helicopter gunships have been sighted in nearby mountainous areas, and warships are stationed off the coast.