This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/6544437.stm

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 10 Version 11
Explosions rock Algerian capital Explosions rock Algerian capital
(30 minutes later)
At least 23 people have been killed and 160 injured after two blasts rocked Algeria's capital - one exploding near the prime minister's office. Two blasts in Algeria's capital Algiers have killed at least 23 people and injured 160 - one exploding near the prime minister's office.
At least nine died and at least 32 were wounded in a car bombing outside the government buildings in Algiers. A caller claiming to represent the al-Qaeda in the Maghreb group told an Arabic TV channel that his group had carried out the attacks.
There has been no independent verification of the claim.
Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem, who was unharmed, called the attacks a "cowardly and criminal act".
At least nine people died and at least 32 were wounded in the car bombing outside his offices in Algiers.
Another explosion at a police station in the east killed at least eight people and left at least 50 injured.Another explosion at a police station in the east killed at least eight people and left at least 50 injured.
Unharmed by the blast, Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem called the attacks a "cowardly and criminal act". The official APS agency, quoting the Algerian authorities, reported the higher toll, but did not give a full breakdown of how many were killed in each of the attacks.
No group has yet admitted carrying out the attacks. The Algerian authorities, quoted by the official APS agency, did not give a full breakdown of how many were killed in each of the attacks.
'Cowardice and betrayal''Cowardice and betrayal'
Violent attacks have been increasing in Algeria since the main Islamist rebel group, the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), changed its name to the al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb in January.Violent attacks have been increasing in Algeria since the main Islamist rebel group, the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), changed its name to the al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb in January.
This is a crime, a cowardly act. It can only be described as cowardice and betrayal Abdelaziz BelkhademAlgerian Prime Minister In pictures: Algerian blasts Blasts fuel regional fears This is a crime, a cowardly act Abdelaziz BelkhademAlgerian Prime Minister class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/6545855.stm">Profile: Maghreb al-Qaeda In pictures: Algerian blasts Blasts fuel regional fears
Al-Jazeera TV said this was the group that had claimed responsibility for Wednesday's violence.
The city centre explosion was so loud it could be heard up to 10km (six miles) away, residents said.The city centre explosion was so loud it could be heard up to 10km (six miles) away, residents said.
Government employees were injured by flying glass and debris, which spread up to 300m from the site of the blasts. Government employees were injured by flying glass and debris, which spread up to 300m (yards) from the site of the blasts.
Ambulances went to the scene and police blocked entry to the prime minister's office, which also houses the offices of the interior minister.Ambulances went to the scene and police blocked entry to the prime minister's office, which also houses the offices of the interior minister.
The police station attack happened in the eastern suburb of Bab Ezzouar.The police station attack happened in the eastern suburb of Bab Ezzouar.
Speaking on Algerian radio, Mr Belkhadem denounced the bombings, which come as the government is working towards national reconciliation. Speaking on Algerian radio, Mr Belkhadem denounced the bombings, which come as the government says it is working towards national reconciliation.
"This is a crime, a cowardly act. It can only be described as cowardice and betrayal," Mr Belkhadem said. "This is a crime, a cowardly act," Mr Belkhadem said.
In February, GSPC carried out a series of bomb attacks on police stations - but the BBC's Middle East analyst, Roger Hardy, says car bombings in the capital itself have become rare. In February, the GSPC carried out a series of bomb attacks on police stations - but the BBC's Middle East analyst, Roger Hardy, says car bombings in the capital itself have become rare.
He says the Algerian government has prided itself on the fact that the vicious killings of the mid-1990s - the product of a brutal war between the security forces and a variety of armed Islamist groups - are now a thing of the past.He says the Algerian government has prided itself on the fact that the vicious killings of the mid-1990s - the product of a brutal war between the security forces and a variety of armed Islamist groups - are now a thing of the past.
That violence began when the army took power and cancelled elections which an Islamist opposition group was poised to win.That violence began when the army took power and cancelled elections which an Islamist opposition group was poised to win.
Our correspondent says analysts believe the GSPC has a more ambitious agenda and is building up networks in neighbouring Morocco and Tunisia - as well as among Muslim militants in Europe.Our correspondent says analysts believe the GSPC has a more ambitious agenda and is building up networks in neighbouring Morocco and Tunisia - as well as among Muslim militants in Europe.
Last August, Algeria offered Islamist militants a six-month amnesty on condition of surrender.Last August, Algeria offered Islamist militants a six-month amnesty on condition of surrender.

Are you in the region? If you have any information you'd like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below.

Are you in the region? If you have any information you'd like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below.
You can send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 0044 7725 100 100You can send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 0044 7725 100 100
Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and videoClick here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video
When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
Name:
Name: