Suicide truck bomb kills at least 10 Algerian soldiers, wounds 35
CAIRO — At least 10 soldiers were killed when a suicide attacker blew himself
up outside the barracks of the Algerian Army. Another 35 people were injured
in the attack on Wednesday, the worst since multiple suicide strikes against
Algeria's police and military in April.
"We regret the attack this morning and the losses, but we did not rule
out such a prospect by terrorist groups," Algerian Interior Minister Nour Al
Deen Yazid Zerhouni said.
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The latest attack took place hours before the opening of the All Africa
Games in Algiers, with 8,000 athletes from more than 20 countries. The
bombing was reported in Lakhdaria, about 120 kilometers east of Algiers, Middle East Newsline reported.
Officials said the bomber drove a truck full of explosives into the
military barracks. Al Qaida claimed responsibility for the attack.
"Our martyr, with God's help and might, managed to infiltrate the heart
of the military camp and exploded in the middle of the courtyard," Al Qaida
said.
Al Qaida has warned foreigners to leave Algeria. On July 10, French
President Nicolas Sarkozy concluded a visit to Algeria and pledged military
and security cooperation with the former North African colony.
The Islamic insurgency has intensifed in 2007 in wake of the Al Qaida
merger with the Salafist Brigade for Combat and Call. The new Al Qaida
Organization in Islamic Maghreb has introduced suicide bombings in an effort
to undermine the regime of President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika.
On July 5, Al Qaida attempted to assassinate the governor of the Tizi
Ouzou region of the Kabylie province. Gov. Hocine Mazouz escaped unharmed.
Officials said authorities were bracing for Al Qaida strikes during the
Africa Games. An estimated 10,000 police have been deployed to protect the
residential complex and sports fields.