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| Africa North |
| Suicide blast serves external interests - Algerian minister |
| 2007-09-08 |
| (KUNA) -- Algeria's Minister of Interior Nureddin Yazid Zarhouni blamed Friday the suicide bomb attack in the northern town of Batna on "external parties". Angered by Algeria's regaining of its international prestige, external parties with ulterior motives sought to use terrorist acts in order to damage the interests, and mar the image, of Algeria, the minister said in a press conference here. Algeria asserted itself on the international arena especially in the economic and political fields, which might have aroused ire of some capitals, he said, without identifying the capitals. A suicide attacker wearing an explosive belt blew himself amidst a crowd of people who were waiting to welcome President Abdul-Aziz Bouteflika to Batna town, some 530 k.m. east Algiers,. The attack left 19 dead and 107 injured. The bomb was of limited explosive power despite the big numbers of casualties, the minister disclosed. It is a home-made improvised charge and its chemical components are available on the market, he adding, pledging to go ahead with the anti-terrorism campaign in line with Bouteflika instructions. |
| Posted by:Fred |