22 Killed in Unsuccessful Assassination Attempt in Algeria
World | September 8, 2007, SaturdayA total of 22 people died and another 107 were wounded in an assassination attempt against Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
A bomber had detonated the device after being discovered by the crowd in Batna, northeastern Algeria, before Bouteflika had arrived at the spot.
Bouteflika is strongly backed by the military, which is in constant conflict with Islamist militias. Earlier this year, bombings have claimed the lives of 43 people, with an offshoot of al-Qaeda claiming responsibility.
Additionally, the Arabisation policies of the government have clashed with the demands of the country's large Berber population, causing massive riots in the region of Kabyle in 2001. Bouteflika has repeatedly stated his opposition to Berber demands.
In a separate bombing on Saturday, 28 people have been killed and around 60 injured in a car bomb attack on an Algerian naval barracks in Dellys, 100 kilometres east of Algiers.
A bomber had detonated the device after being discovered by the crowd in Batna, northeastern Algeria, before Bouteflika had arrived at the spot.
Bouteflika is strongly backed by the military, which is in constant conflict with Islamist militias. Earlier this year, bombings have claimed the lives of 43 people, with an offshoot of al-Qaeda claiming responsibility.
Additionally, the Arabisation policies of the government have clashed with the demands of the country's large Berber population, causing massive riots in the region of Kabyle in 2001. Bouteflika has repeatedly stated his opposition to Berber demands.
In a separate bombing on Saturday, 28 people have been killed and around 60 injured in a car bomb attack on an Algerian naval barracks in Dellys, 100 kilometres east of Algiers.
» Subscribe to receive alerts by email for any of these keywords.
Share:
