At least 15 wounded by Algeria suicide bombMarch 3, 2012 - 14:54 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - At least 15 people were wounded on Saturday, March 3, when a suicide bomber drove a four-wheel drive vehicle packed with explosives at a paramilitary police base in a Sahara desert town, local media and security officials said, Reuters reported. The attack was at a gendarme headquarters in the centre of Tamanrasset, an oasis about 2,000 km (1,240 miles) south of the Algerian capital, and near the border with Mali and Niger.A Toyota jeep exploded after it was driven at the perimeter wall of the gendarme base at 7:48 a.m., according to the online edition of Algeria's Ennahar newspaper. The 15 people injured in the blast included gendarmes and civilians, some of whom were on a bus which was driving past at the moment of the explosion, the newspaper said. Security officials confirmed to Reuters the newspaper's account of the attack. It was not immediately clear exactly how many people had died or who was responsible. Al Qaeda's North African wing, al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, has been carrying out an insurgency in Algeria. It frequently targets security forces. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |