An arms and ammunition cache was seized in Bouira, southeast of the Algerian capital, the Ministry of National Defense announced on Tuesday. In a press statement, the Ministry said four sub-machine guns, four ammunition tanks, as well as 55 conventional bombs and 20 kilograms of TNT explosives were seized on Monday. Bouira is the major terror stronghold in Algeria, and until recently it was a base for extremist groups, mainly the Salafi Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC). The GSPC was transformed in 2007 into al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), led by Abdelmalek Droukdel, also know as Abu Musab Abdul Wadud. Algeria’s counter-terrorism units killed three armed militants in April, arrested one and five other support elements for terrorist groups. They also destroyed 22 hideouts of terrorist groups. During his visit to the Third Military Region, southwestern Algeria, Acting Chief of Staff of the Army Major-General Said Chengriha stressed that the new stage requires soldiers to act as successful leaders, who must impose their presence in the battlefield. “Professionalism is one of the most important criteria for evaluating cadres in the Peoples National Army,” he noted. The region visited by the senior military commander is a hotbed of smugglers and drug traffickers. Chengriha said the professionalism sought among army soldiers and officers is what makes the principle of dedication to work the only approach and best mean to attain the highest ranks.