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Three Algerians have been killed and two seriously injured in an Algerian village, after a man killed the brother of a woman who rejected his marriage proposal.

The episode of family violence took place in the north-western village of Remchi on Monday after the 32-year-old suspect killed the brother of his would-be bride.

"The incident took place late at night before the dawn prayers. The man confronted a brother of the woman who rejected him and killed him," local Yacine Chair told °®Âþµº.

"In response, the victim's family banded together, heavily armed themselves with knives and went to the home of the killer, where a violent fight broke out between the two parties."

Chair said that family of the victim had rejected a marriage proposal from the man because of his "inferior social status".

Tribal and family feuds in rural Algeria can often last years.

Last year, clashes between Arab and Berber youth in Algeria left at least 22 people dead in the ethnically mixed town of Ghardaia.

Family sociologist Said Nawi said: "We are currently up against the collapse of family values not just the excesses of individuals. Family feuds are now commonplace and are caused by land disputes or trivial disputes between brothers that lead to violence."