Guard arrested for Boudiaf's murder

ALGIERS (Reuter) - Mohamed Boudiaf, Algeria's late head of state, was buried in a martyrs' grave yesterday two days after being shot dead, allegedly by a member of his security guard. Emotional scenes and tight security underlined the divisions in Algeria. Angry mourners accused both Islamic fundamentalists and Algeria's old guard of the killing.

Four hours later, the official news agency APS said the alleged killer, whom it did not name, was a sub-lieutenant in the counter-espionage unit. He was on security duty to protect Boudiaf as he gave speech on Monday. APS gave no indication of the man's motives. El Watan newspaper yesterday said 12 members of the security unit had been detained.

Boudiaf was laid to rest in a ceremony televised live after passing through streets of shuttered shops thronged with tens of thousands of people. At the presidency, Slimane Amirat, a former comrade, had collapsed and died from a heart attack as he saluted the coffin.