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Algiers blasts kill 10 UN staff Algiers blasts kill 10 UN staff
(about 2 hours later)
The United Nations has confirmed 10 of its staff died in a double car bombing in the Algerian capital, Algiers, which officially killed at least 26 people. The UN has confirmed 10 of its staff died in a double car bombing in the Algerian capital, Algiers, which killed at least 26 people and injured 177.
Medics believe as many as 62 people died at UN offices and government buildings when the devices went off on Tuesday morning. Medics believe as many as 62 people died when the devices went off near UN offices and government buildings.
As rescuers dug through the rubble, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called them "an abjectly cowardly strike". Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called the worst attack on the UN since 2003 "an abjectly, cowardly strike".
A group allied to al-Qaeda claimed the attacks on an Islamist website. As rescuers dug through the rubble, Al-Qaeda's North Africa wing claimed the attacks on an Islamist website.
Algerian television has reported that six people were pulled alive from the ruins of the UN offices.
Map showing bomb blast locations Map showing bomb blast locations
Algerian television has reported that six people were pulled alive from the ruins of the UN offices.
Missing staff
"We now believe that the UN death toll is at 10," said UN spokeswoman Marie Okabe, adding that "a number of staff" were still missing."We now believe that the UN death toll is at 10," said UN spokeswoman Marie Okabe, adding that "a number of staff" were still missing.
This is of course a target for those that have a completely nihilist vision of today's world Antonio GuterresUN High Commissioner for Refugees In quotes: World reactionIn pictures: Algiers blastsAlgeria's shifting violence
The offices of UN refugee agency and UN Development Programme were damaged in the attacks.
The blasts, which the government said injured at least 177 people, were the latest in a series of attacks in Algeria this year.The blasts, which the government said injured at least 177 people, were the latest in a series of attacks in Algeria this year.
The facade of a UN office in the Hydra district was ripped off during the first blast at around 0930 (0830 GMT).
It was the deadliest attack on the UN since militants bombed its offices in Baghdad, Iraq, in 2003, killing 22 people.
At around the same time, an explosion ripped into a bus packed with students outside Algeria's Constitutional Council in the Ben Aknoun district.
The body rules on the constitutionality of laws and supervises elections.
'Infidels' den''Infidels' den'
UN offices in the Hydra district were hit around 0930 (0830 GMT).
At around the same time, a blast outside Algeria's Constitutional Council in the Ben Aknoun district hit a bus packed with students.
In an unverified online statement, a group calling itself al-Qaeda in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb said two vehicles packed with 800kg (1,700lb) of explosives each were used in the blasts.In an unverified online statement, a group calling itself al-Qaeda in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb said two vehicles packed with 800kg (1,700lb) of explosives each were used in the blasts.
The group said it had targeted "the headquarters of the international infidels' den" and the supreme court to honour one of its senior militants, who died fighting Algerian troops. class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7138357.stm">Witness: 'Everything fell' class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/6545855.stm">Profile: Al-Qaeda in N Africa
It called on Western leaders to heed the demands of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden". The group labelled the UN buildings an "international infidels' den" and said it had carried out the attacks to honour one of its senior militants, who died fighting Algerian troops.
The chief spokesman for the UN refugee agency, Ron Redmond, said it was beyond him why "someone would attack the UN, which is basically a peace-building organisation". It called on Western leaders to "heed the demands of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden".
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Antonio Guterres said of the attack on his offices: "This is of course a target for those that have a completely nihilist vision of today's world."
Algerian Interior Minister Yazid Zerhouni confirmed a suicide bomber was behind the blast which hit the UN offices.
Violence upsurge
The UN secretary general led international condemnation of the attacks.
ATTACKS IN ALGERIA IN 2007 11 December: twin car bombs kill at least 26 including 10 UN staff in Algiers 8 September: 32 die in bombing in Dellys claimed by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb6 September: 22 die in bombing in Batna claimed by al-Qaeda in Islamic MaghrebJuly: Suicide bomber targets barracks near Bouira, killing nineMay: Dozens killed in run-up to elections, in fighting between military and militantsApril: 33 killed in Algiers in attacks claimed by al-Qaeda in the Islamic MaghrebMarch: Three Algerians and a Russian killed in attack on gas pipeline workersFebruary: Seven bombs kill six east of Algiers
"This was an abjectly cowardly strike against civilian officials serving humanity's highest ideals," he said.
US President George W Bush condemned the attack "by these enemies of humanity" and French President Nicolas Sarkozy called the bombings "barbaric and cowardly".
Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem, who visited the injured in hospitals, said nothing could "justify the crime".
There have been a series of bomb attacks across Algeria during the past year in which scores of people have died.
In September more than 50 people were killed in suicide attacks - one of them involved a truck packed with explosives being driven into a coast-guard base.
Members of the public have recently held rallies in protest at the upsurge in violence.
Many of the recent blasts were also claimed by al-Qaeda in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb (AQLIM), including a triple suicide bombing in Algiers in April which killed 33 people.
Algeria suffered a brutal and bloody civil war in the 1990s, but in recent years violence had declined.
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