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Bombs kill two east of Algiers-security sources
04 Jun 2008 19:43:02 GMT
Source: Reuters
(Rewrites with detail from scene, ministers due to meet)

By Lamine Chikhi and Hamid Ould Ahmed

ALGIERS, June 4 (Reuters) - Bombs killed two people on Wednesday near a military barracks east of Algiers, a day before foreign ministers from 11 Mediterranean countries were due to meet in the Algerian capital, security sources said.

Several others were wounded when the three bombs went off in Bordj El Kiffan, about 25 km (15 miles) east of central Algiers, the sources said.

One went off in a cafe used occasionally by soldiers from the barracks in the popular seaside neighbourhood of Lido. Residents said another device exploded close by.

"Profiting from these explosions, a terrorist tried to enter a barracks and blew himself up nearby, injuring three, according to eyewitnesses," Algerian state news agency APS said.

Over 200 police and gendarmes sealed off the area and dozens of local residents looked on as white-clad forensic experts picked over the site.

There was no immediate word on who carried out the attacks, the first deadly bombings in the Algiers area since December.

Al Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb has claimed responsibility for a series of bombings in the North African country, including a twin attack on a court building and U.N. offices in Algiers in December in which 41 people were killed.

Foreign ministers from 11 countries were to meet in Algiers on Thursday to discuss France's plan for a Mediterranean union.

The project, due to be launched in July, aims to inject new vigour into the EU's relations with southern neighbours, boost regional trade and improve north-south cooperation in fighting terrorism and illegal migration. (Additional reporting by Larbi Louafi; Writing by Tom Pfeiffer; Editing by Jon Boyle)
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