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Friday, July 13, 2007

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.

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