[On Saturday, a car bomb in the Algerian town of Delys destroyed a Coast
Guard barracks and killed at least 30 people, Middle East Newsline reported. The attack was attributed to
Al Qaida.]
Officials said the use of explosive belt enabled operatives to
infiltrate civilians. They said the Sept. 6 bombing, which took place during
a scheduled visit by President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika, could have sought to
kill the Algerian leadership.
"The use of suicide bombers blowing themselves up means that the regime
must provide additional security," the security source said. "It's been a
surprise to some in the security forces."
Despite internal dissent, Al Qaida adopted the use of suicide bombings
in Algeria in 2007. In April 33 people were killed in a triple suicide
bombings in Algiers. On July 11, at least eight soldiers were killed in a
suicide truck bombing.
Algerian security sources said Al Qaida would make good on its promise
to conduct mass-casualty strikes in Algeria. They said the attacks would
target the Bouteflika regime, including the president himself.
Over the last two years, Bouteflika has offered an amnesty to
insurgents. Many members of the former Salafist Brigade for Combat and Call,
which merged with Al Qaida in September 2006, were said to have applied for
amnesty and at least 300 of them were said to have surrendered.
"I will not for a single moment renounce the political project built on
national reconciliation and security for all Algerians," Bouteflika said.
