The leader of Algeria's second largest Islamic rebel group has been arrested, the Interior Ministry said on Monday, dealing a fresh blow to radical Muslim militants fighting the secular government. The arrest of Nourredine Boudiafi, head of the Armed Islamic Group (GIA), came six months after the killing of Nabil Sahraoui, head of the larger and more active Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), North Africa's top extremist group which has ties to al Qaeda. Boudiafi was detained during an operation that started on November 5 in Bab Ezzouar, on the outskirts of Algiers, the ministry said in a statement carried by the official APS news agency. Authorities dismantled several GIA support networks near the capital. The statement did not say exactly when Boudiafi was detained and ministry officials were not available for comment. Police chief Ali Tounsi said recently that between 300 and 500 rebels were still active in Algeria, most in GSPC ranks.