Algerian President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika seeks renewed U.S. military and security help in that Arab country's war against terrorism.

Bouteflika arrives in Washington on Monday and will meet U.S. President George Bush at the White House. The two men are expected to discuss the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan and the campaign against terrorism.

Algeria and the United States have increased security relations over the last three years. Bouteflika's government has provided more than 1,500 names of suspected Islamic insurgents to Washington in the aftermath of the Islamic suicide attacks on New York and Washington.

Bouteflika is expected to request increased U.S. military and security aid for his country. The aid is meant to provide advanced equipment Ñ such as night-vision systems and sensors Ñ meant to facilitate search-and-destroy missions for Islamic insurgents in eastern Algeria.

The two men are also expected to discuss the future of Western Sahara as well as Algeria's relations with Morocco. Bouteflika has blamed Morocco for harboring insurgents who have targeted Algiers.

Over the weekend, Algeria's military continued its offensive against Islamic insurgents throughout the country. Commandos and elite forces combed the eastern and southern regions of Algeria and nearly 20 insurgents were reportedly killed.

The military targets were the GSPC, or the Salafist Group for Call and Combat. The group, led by Hassan Hattab, has been cited as the insurgency group responsible for the massacres of civilians.

U.S. officials said the Salafist group has an alliance with the Al Qaida group of Bin Laden. Al Qaida has cells in more than 40 countries.

"And being a transnational entity means that Al Qaida behaves like one, often merging, absorbing and forging alliances with other prominent terrorist groups, like the Egyptian Islamic Jihad and Algeria's Salafist Group for Call and Combat," Treasury Deputy Secretary Kenneth Dam said.

The Algerian commandos were supported by attack helicopters in the military operations. Sweeps were reported in Ein Defla southeast of Algiers.

Another operation was reported in the Khinshala region in eastern Algeria.

Arab diplomatic sources said the government of President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika wants to drive the insurgents deep underground before the approach of the Islamic Ramadan, the month of fasting, beginning later this month.

Algeria's military continues its offensive against Islamic insurgents throughout the country.

Reports from Algiers said commandos and elite forces are engaged in search-and-destroy operations in the eastern and southern regions of Algeria. Over the weekend, close to 20 insurgents have been reportedly killed.

Security forces have also arrested suspected insurgents and seized large quantities of weapons and ammunition. During one raid, the reports said, Algerian troops found children kidnapped by the insurgents.

The military targets were the GSPC, or the Salafist Group for Call and Combat. The group, led by Hassan Hattab, has been cited as the insurgency group responsible for the massacres of civilians.

The commandos were supported by attack helicopters in the military operations. Sweeps were reported in Ein Defla southeast of Algiers. Another operation was reported in the Khinshala region in eastern Algeria.

Arab diplomatic sources said the government of President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika wants to drive the insurgents deep underground ahead of the approach of the Islamic fast month of Ramadan later this month.

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