ALGIERS, Sept 6 (Reuters) - A bomb exploded in the Algerian town of Batna on Thursday shortly before a scheduled visit by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, wounding several people, residents said.

One of the residents said some of the wounded were among a crowd of people waiting to witness the president's arrival in the town 430 km (270 miles) southeast of the capital Algiers. By late afternoon, the president's visit had not taken place, the residents said.

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