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ALGIERS, Algeria (CNN) -- The Algerian government on Tuesday strongly denied newspaper reports that up to 400 people were killed in a Sunday night massacre, insisting the figure was 103 killed in the latest of a series of mass killings.
Citing witness accounts, Algeria's El Watan and Liberte newspapers reported that more than 400 people were killed and 20 young girls were kidnapped in the village of Sidi Ahmed about 20 miles (30 km) south of the capital, Algiers.
Another newspaper, La Tribune, gave a lower figure of 256 dead, citing hospital officials.
Algeria's Interior Ministry, in a statement read on state-run radio, asked newspapers which carried tolls of 400 what point "this macabre accounting" served.
"One death is one death too many," the ministry said. It denied the higher toll "with great firmness." and said the real toll was 103 dead and 70 wounded, including 10 in critical condition.
The official toll was given by government security services on Monday just hours after the massacre.
The coup triggered an insurgency that has left at least 75,000 people dead.
About 1,700 people have been killed in mountain hamlets of western Algeria since the December 30 start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, El Watan and Liberte reported.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest attacks, but suspicion fell on Islamic insurgents.
The attacks began shortly after evening prayers on Sunday. Dozens of attackers threw bombs into the movie hall in Sidi Ahmed and the mosque in nearby Haouche Sahraoui, then shot, knifed or hacked those fleeing, survivors said.
La Tribune said the assailants shot the legs of the victims to slow them down so attackers could slit their throats.
The sharp increase in violence has drawn international concern. Algeria has agreed to a visit by a delegation from the European Union, but refused humanitarian aid and an independent inquiry into who is behind the killings.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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