Village Journals
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Resonate your identity with Naseeb journals. Express your opinions, share your thoughts, post your writings and connect with like minded people through the power of expression.
Bombs in Algeirs
Inna lillahi wa inna illayhi raji'oon
23 killed in Algiers car bomb attacks
Al-Qaeda claims car bomb attacks on government HQ, police station in Algerian capital.
By Hassen Zenati - ALGIERS
Two suicide car bomb attacks claimed by an Al-Qaeda affiliate rocked the Algerian capital, including the prime minister's office, on Wednesday, killing at least 23 people and injuring more than 160.
The bombings, which followed closely on the heels of suicide blasts in neighbouring Morocco, fuelled regional fears of a resurgence in militant activity following crackdowns by North African governments.
The first of Wednesday's attacks was carried out by a suicide bomber who drove his explosives-laden car into a guard post outside the government headquarters in central Algiers, police said.
At least 12 people were killed and 118 hurt, according to the civil defence department which warned that the toll "could become heavier".
A few minutes later, bombers driving two cars triggered explosions in the eastern suburb of Bab Ezzouar, on the road to the international airport and not far from one of Algeria's largest universities.
Police said 11 people were killed and 44 wounded in the blasts that demolished an electricity sub-station and badly damaged a police station.
Al-Qaeda's branch in North Africa claimed responsibility for the attacks, publishing photographs of what it said were the three suicide bombers in an Internet statement.
The statement on an Islamist website often used by the Al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden said the car bombings killed at least 53 people.
World leaders reacted with horror to the bombings.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his "sorrow and indignation".
In Washington, both the White House and the State Department condemned the attacks.
"These horrific acts indiscriminately killed members of the security services and civilians alike," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.
In Brussels, European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said: "These were odious and cowardly acts."
French President Jacques Chirac condemned what he called the "terrible attacks" in a message of solidarity to Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Algeria was until 1962 a French colony.
The Arab League condemned "these terrorist acts and what they represent and aim to achieve."
The blast at the government headquarters, which houses the prime minister's office and other ministries, wrecked the facade of the eight-storey complex and blew out the windows of many neighbouring buildings.
More than one hour after the explosion, which was heard across the capital, a thick cloud of smoke was still rising from the blast site.
The blasts came as the Algerian authorities are struggling to curb an upswing in Islamist activity.
At least 33 people, including about 15 security officers, have been killed in clashes with Islamist militants since the beginning of April, according to official figures and media reports.
In February 2006, the government offered an amnesty to any Islamists who surrendered.
Five days ago, nine Algerian soldiers and at least six Islamist militants were killed when a military convoy was ambushed in a forested area west of the capital.
The Algerian army has been involved in a 20-day offensive in the eastern region of Kabylie against the Al-Qaeda group that claimed Wednesday's attack.
Previously known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, it recently changed its name to reflect a direct affiliation with Osama bin Laden's network.
Algeria is not the only north African state battling militant activity, with neighbours Tunisia and Morocco facing a similar challenge from Islamist groups.
"For a while, it seemed that the authorities in (these) countries had broken the back of the Islamist terrorist networks," said Magnus Ranstorp, a specialist at Sweden's national defence college.
"But it looks that these fronts have been re-energized, revitalized, perhaps because of the severity of the crackdowns. That is what we are seeing today essentially: a sort of reaction to these offensives," Ranstorp said.
In Morocco on Wednesday, police hunted 10 possible suicide bombers in Casablanca, a day after three suspected militants blew themselves up as they were being chased.
All were wanted in connection with a March 11 bomb that exploded in a Casablanca Internet cafe.
In that attack, the bomber, Abdelfettah Raydi, died and his suspected accomplice and three customers were injured.
23 killed in Algiers car bomb attacks
Al-Qaeda claims car bomb attacks on government HQ, police station in Algerian capital.
By Hassen Zenati - ALGIERS
Two suicide car bomb attacks claimed by an Al-Qaeda affiliate rocked the Algerian capital, including the prime minister's office, on Wednesday, killing at least 23 people and injuring more than 160.
The bombings, which followed closely on the heels of suicide blasts in neighbouring Morocco, fuelled regional fears of a resurgence in militant activity following crackdowns by North African governments.
The first of Wednesday's attacks was carried out by a suicide bomber who drove his explosives-laden car into a guard post outside the government headquarters in central Algiers, police said.
At least 12 people were killed and 118 hurt, according to the civil defence department which warned that the toll "could become heavier".
A few minutes later, bombers driving two cars triggered explosions in the eastern suburb of Bab Ezzouar, on the road to the international airport and not far from one of Algeria's largest universities.
Police said 11 people were killed and 44 wounded in the blasts that demolished an electricity sub-station and badly damaged a police station.
Al-Qaeda's branch in North Africa claimed responsibility for the attacks, publishing photographs of what it said were the three suicide bombers in an Internet statement.
The statement on an Islamist website often used by the Al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden said the car bombings killed at least 53 people.
World leaders reacted with horror to the bombings.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his "sorrow and indignation".
In Washington, both the White House and the State Department condemned the attacks.
"These horrific acts indiscriminately killed members of the security services and civilians alike," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.
In Brussels, European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said: "These were odious and cowardly acts."
French President Jacques Chirac condemned what he called the "terrible attacks" in a message of solidarity to Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Algeria was until 1962 a French colony.
The Arab League condemned "these terrorist acts and what they represent and aim to achieve."
The blast at the government headquarters, which houses the prime minister's office and other ministries, wrecked the facade of the eight-storey complex and blew out the windows of many neighbouring buildings.
More than one hour after the explosion, which was heard across the capital, a thick cloud of smoke was still rising from the blast site.
The blasts came as the Algerian authorities are struggling to curb an upswing in Islamist activity.
At least 33 people, including about 15 security officers, have been killed in clashes with Islamist militants since the beginning of April, according to official figures and media reports.
In February 2006, the government offered an amnesty to any Islamists who surrendered.
Five days ago, nine Algerian soldiers and at least six Islamist militants were killed when a military convoy was ambushed in a forested area west of the capital.
The Algerian army has been involved in a 20-day offensive in the eastern region of Kabylie against the Al-Qaeda group that claimed Wednesday's attack.
Previously known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, it recently changed its name to reflect a direct affiliation with Osama bin Laden's network.
Algeria is not the only north African state battling militant activity, with neighbours Tunisia and Morocco facing a similar challenge from Islamist groups.
"For a while, it seemed that the authorities in (these) countries had broken the back of the Islamist terrorist networks," said Magnus Ranstorp, a specialist at Sweden's national defence college.
"But it looks that these fronts have been re-energized, revitalized, perhaps because of the severity of the crackdowns. That is what we are seeing today essentially: a sort of reaction to these offensives," Ranstorp said.
In Morocco on Wednesday, police hunted 10 possible suicide bombers in Casablanca, a day after three suspected militants blew themselves up as they were being chased.
All were wanted in connection with a March 11 bomb that exploded in a Casablanca Internet cafe.
In that attack, the bomber, Abdelfettah Raydi, died and his suspected accomplice and three customers were injured.
Comments on this journal
May Allah bring these people back on Sirat al mustaqeem.
Aouchi ...there is something about the dates...
Nothing justify to kill a non-muslim if it is not for self-defense, So what to say about so-called muslims ( May Allah forgive me ) killing our muslim brothers... its ignorance, JAHILIYA, more than anything else!
March, 11
April, 11