By Abdel-Razek Abdallah

ALGIERS

The Algerian military has discovered a weapons cache containing six missiles near its borders with Mali and Niger, the Defense Ministry said Monday.

"During search operations in the southern Tamanrasset province, an arms cache was discovered containing six BM-21 Grad missiles," the ministry said without elaborating.

Last December, the Algerian army found 11 anti-tank rockets in the town of Bordj Badji Mokhtar near the border with Mali.

In recent years, Algeria has deployed troops along its southern border with Mali and Niger -- and along its eastern border with Tunisia and Libya -- with a view to preventing terrorists and smugglers from entering the North African country.