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| Algiers bomb shatters UN office | Algiers bomb shatters UN office |
| (1 day later) | |
| 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. | 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 up to 62 people died when the devices went off, shearing the facade off the UN refugee agency and hitting a government building. | Medics believe up to 62 people died when the devices went off, shearing the facade off the UN refugee agency and hitting a government building. |
| Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called the worst attack on the UN since 2003 "an abjectly, cowardly strike". | Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called the worst attack on the UN since 2003 "an abjectly, cowardly strike". |
| Al-Qaeda's North Africa wing claimed responsibility on an Islamist website. | Al-Qaeda's North Africa wing claimed responsibility on an Islamist website. |
| 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. | Algerian television has reported that six people were pulled alive from the ruins of the UN offices. |
| Missing staff | 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 | 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 neighbouring office of the UN Development Programme was also damaged when the first car bomb went off at around 0930 (0830 GMT) in the Hydra district. | The neighbouring office of the UN Development Programme was also damaged when the first car bomb went off at around 0930 (0830 GMT) in the Hydra district. |
| It was the deadliest attack on the UN since militants bombed its offices in Baghdad, Iraq, in 2003, killing 22 people. | 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. | 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. | The body rules on the constitutionality of laws and supervises elections. |
| 'Infidels' den' | 'Infidels' den' |
| 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. |
| Witness: 'Everything fell'Profile: Al-Qaeda in N Africa | Witness: 'Everything fell'Profile: Al-Qaeda in N Africa |
| 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 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. |
| It called on Western leaders to "heed the demands of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden". | 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 his office was "of course a target for those that have a completely nihilist vision of today's world". | UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Antonio Guterres said his office was "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. | Algerian Interior Minister Yazid Zerhouni confirmed a suicide bomber was behind the blast which hit the UN offices. |
| Violence upsurge | Violence upsurge |
| The UN secretary general led international condemnation of the attacks. | 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 | 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. | "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". | 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". | 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. | There have been a series of bomb attacks across Algeria during the past year in which scores of people have died. |
| Members of the public have recently held rallies in protest at the upsurge in violence. | 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). | Many of the recent blasts were also claimed by al-Qaeda in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb (AQLIM). |
| Algeria suffered a brutal and bloody civil war in the 1990s, but in recent years violence had declined. | Algeria suffered a brutal and bloody civil war in the 1990s, but in recent years violence had declined. |
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